Demolition Derby: Pupil looks to become master in Sunday Smasher
Jamie Parke will be driving this Cutlass Ciera in the Compact division of the Demolition Derby at the Wasco County Fair on Sunday in Tygh Valley. Colissions start at 11 a.m.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Aug. 17, 2024 — Get ready for some heavy hitting as demolition derby drivers enter the arena at the Wasco County Fair on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Survival of the smashers begins at 11 a.m. and there is some good competition this year as teammates now rivals will be going after each other in the single heat compact division.
Todd Nunn of Goldendale looks forward to the derby where he will be looking to cave in good friend Jamie Parke.
Todd Nunn of Goldendale and Jamie Parke of The Dalles have been friends for years, with Parke providing pit crew for Nunn for a decade.
But Parke is taking the wheel this year in hopes of immobilizing his buddy and all others in the arena with some heavy hits. Fenders into tires. Bumpers into radiators.
“When we get down to the end, that is when it’s going down,” Parke said on Thursday as he prepared his ‘93 Cutless Sierra for competition. “It’s only got 89,000 miles on it.”
Nunn’s wagon stripped down.
We caught up with Nunn at Pine Hollow earlier in the week, and he said he will be driving a ‘91 Chevy Celebrity - a car he purchased from mutual friend Rod Huante of The Dalles for $100. “The AC and cruise control still work.”
His daughter, Emma, painted the Celebrity red, white and blue. His son Alex stripped the car down and did all the welding.
“I’m known around as a heavy hitter,” Nunn said, noting he does not sandbag or layback. “I’m the aggressor. If you do the hitting you know what damage is done to your car.” The 40-year-old has the trophies from past derbies to prove it. He’s been smashing cars in the ring since he was 18 with a lot of success.
“I’ve hit other cars so hard, my own steering wheel broke off in my hands.”
“Everything goes away when you strap the helmet on,” he said. “It’s gonna be some good competition.”
The Demolition Derby will have three classes - compacts, trucks and full-size cars.
Nunn said watch for Zac Hayes of Tygh Valley in the truck and full size divisions as he is a bruiser in the ring.
Drivers are given white flags and red flags - white meaning surrender and red meaning injury or fire.
Parke said William Goss of The Dalles will be driving this derby car supplied by Nunn. In addition, he said local Andrew Mosley will drive a Toyota Camry. Friendly competition might hit some bumps in the fender on Sunday.
