'Killdozer' is one fair demolition derby driver

What could be a better newspaper marketing opportunity than to get behind guys with such names as "Killdozer," "Crusher" and "Butcher?" Guys who drive like maniacs in a muddy pit, trying to slam their opponents' cars out of commission?

None that I know of, which is why I'm proud to remind you that Sunday is Daily Herald Day at the DuPage County Fair. The feature event, as it has been for about 40 years, is the demolition derby.

We've been a proud fair sponsor since the Daily Herald began publishing in DuPage County in the 1980s. And 16 years ago, we aligned ourselves with the derby. We've tried a number of tactics to maximize our exposure in the event. Last year, we shot Daily Herald T-shirts into the crowd, which went over quite well. (Sorry, supplies ran short this year, and due to the downturn in the economy/industry, we won't be duplicating that event; maybe next year.) We also sponsored a driver in the derby. As I recall, he did well, but didn't take home the winner's share of the $3,000 purse.

This year, though, I'm hitching my wagon to the car driven by Killdozer, aka Eric Wassell of Winfield, who is competing in his 20th consecutive demolition derby.

The 39-year-old Wassell was born and bred in DuPage County, and he got interested in the derby largely because his dad owned the Amoco station at Park Boulevard and Butterfield Road in Glen Ellyn, and Wassell had ready access to cheap cars ready for the scrap heap.

So, he bought a $50-$100 clunker, knocked out the windows, chained the doors shut and did the other stuff one needs to do to attempt to be the last car driving.

"Not a very good showing," says Wassell, who in real life is in charge of fleet maintenance for the Glen Ellyn Park District. The veteran drivers "knew where to hit the new guy," and knocked him out early in the competition.

He thought that would be a one-time deal, but he got the bug. He learned a little more about the science of preparing cars for the derby. He had his crews now spend up to 200 hours prepping a car. For instance, it's wise to tune the engine so the distributor can refire if the car stalls when the engine's running hot, which is often the case in these matches.

Wassell's showing in the derby improved, and two years ago, Killdozer took home his first grand prize.

For his 20th anniversary race, he is back with the same 1988 Lincoln Town Car he drove last year.

He says a big motivator is the crowd. If by the off chance you have never been to a demolition derby, let me assure you the grandstand at the DuPage County Fairgrounds is mostly packed for both the preliminary heats at 2 p.m. Sunday and the feature event at 7 p.m.

And, despite the noise of the roaring engines and the gnashing of metal, the drivers can, indeed, hear the crowd. "The crowd goes wild when you put a big hit on somebody," Wassell says. "The louder they are, the more aggressive we are."

So, if you're looking for a day of family fun (no kidding, it really is a fun, family-oriented event), just head over to the fairgrounds at Manchester and County Farm roads. Trying to be sensitive to people's thinly stretched budgets these days, the fair board is offering a good deal: Your $10 fair admission ticket gets you into the grandstand for either or both of the derby shows. I'll be there, too, as part of our sponsorship agreement calls for me to be interviewed by the International Demolition Derby announcer. Can you stand the excitement?

So, please join me for the countdown. Everyone ready?

Three. Two. One ... GO KILLDOZER!

jdavis@dailyherald.com

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=308606">Demolition derby Sunday at DuPage Co. Fair <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=308608">Acts competing for prizes in DuPage Co. Fair talent show <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=309001">Fair visitor's legacy: Six decades, one corn dog <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=309012">'Killdozer' is one fair demolition derby driver <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=309018">Don't be sheepish - shearing demo can be educational <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> </ul> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=9&type=video&item=376">Food at the fair </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>