Twists and turns, skids and spins draw crowds for the survival of the toughest
Ten cars race around a track, raising dust, eating dust and plowing into each other through a series of twists and turns. Cars slide, skid and spin, do donuts and even roll over on their roofs. Only half of them make it to the finish.
Welcome to the demolition derby or, as the Ukrainians put it, the “survival race.”
“It’s all about smashing and racing – a breathtaking male game with no rules,” said Mykhailo Holub, a derby enthusiast from Kirovohrad. “There is just a gentlemen’s agreement not to hit anyone directly in the driver’s door. But anything can happen – it’s sport.”
Those who have never witnessed a demolition derby will soon have the chance, during the Chaika Music Festival on May 26. The race will be held at Chaika stadium in front of the concert stage, during the intermissions of the planned 20-hour-long rock extravaganza.
About 20 cars will race in the four rounds of the derby, with the entire metal-crunching event lasting about three hours. Some professional racers from Kirovohrad will participate, as will beginners who will have had their first derby practice the day before the race. The number of spots is limited, but the race is open to anyone with $150 and three years’ driving experience.
But if you don’t get behind the wheel this time out, don’t worry. There will be another chance when the derby returns to Kyiv in the fall. Those who can’t wait that long can head down to Kirovohrad where races take place every weekend.
It’s all thanks to Holub, who brought his new-found love back to his native town after participating in derbies in Moscow. He founded Ukraine’s only demolition derby club in 1996.
Ever since, Kirovohrad’s daredevils have been meeting to smash each other and their cars to pieces at a track called Zavadovka.
A motorcycle track during Soviet times, Zavadovka is an unpaved oval with straight stretches, hills, twists and hairpin turns. Cars race at an average speed of around 60 kilometers an hour – quite slow for a highway but downright breathtaking on a bumpy dirt track.
Beginners typically try to stay on the smoother parts of the circuit while the aces do their best to imitate snowboarders, jumping off the moguls and frequently flipping upside down.
Scary as it looks from the sidelines, the demolition derby is not that dangerous if drivers observe all the safety rules. First, a driver must wear a helmet and buckle up with a special harness. Every rookie also undergoes a brief medical examination. And, most importantly, the cars themselves are reinforced with welded metal pipes to strengthen the frame and protect the driver in the event of a roll.
Of course, nothing can prevent the occasional bumps and bruises that are part of derby racing. According to Holub, no derby participant in Kirovohrad has ever suffered an injury worse than a broken leg.
Cars, on the other hand, break down all the time. They are neither strictly racing cars nor four-wheel-drive off-roaders. Instead, derby cars are the cheapest you can find, and most aren’t even registered with the local GAI traffic police since they would never pass inspection.
They are the so-called “Kopeikas” – the oldest model of the Russian-made Zhiguli. For about $500, club mechanics will prime cars to racing condition, welding more than 20 meters of metal pipes onto the car in the process. Some drivers prefer to pick up an outfitted derby car for around $1,500.
Organizers then go over each vehicle before the start of the race, making sure the structure is firm. If something is found to be wrong, the car is disqualified and goes back to the garage for some welding adjustment.
Holub said a derby car can last several racing seasons if properly maintained. As long as the engine works and the chassis holds up, other parts can be replaced as needed.
The weekend races at Zavadovka attract a variety of people. Some are racing fanatics who work hard and save their money just to be able to keep their car running from race to race. Others are well-off entrepreneurs who use the races as a way to relax and unwind.
Some drivers race conservatively, in an effort to safeguard their car. Others will do anything to finish first.
But each considers the demolition derby to be a sport for “real men.” Some women also race at Zavadovka, but not in demolition derbies.
To take part in a demolition derby in Kirovohrad, call Vitaly Zorin at 251-8877.
Renting a racing car for a day costs around $150. The fee includes racing equipment, use of the vehicle and entry fee. You must have a driver’s license.
GETTING THERE:
Buses and trains go to Kirovohrad daily.
Or call Vitaly Zorin, who organizes
minibuses to Kyrovohrad ($20).
For more information call
250-9986 for buses
and 005 for trains.
At the train or bus station in Kyrovohrad, take a cab to Zavadovka (Hr 10).
