Demolition derby’s goal is to build up fair

Morgan County Fair officials want to bring more excitement to the annual summertime event.

To help this year with one of the fairs big attractions, fair organizers brought in Ramer Race Promotions of Mendota to provide some expert help in arranging a demolition derby.

We provide a safe and entertaining demolition derby that levels the playing field and encourages local participation, said Carol Ramer, secretary-treasurer of ramerinc.com. Paul and Carol Ramer, their son, two daughters, a son-in-law and several close friends run the business, which coordinates about 12 demolition derbies around Illinois every summer.

Each Ramer family member has a specific task to perform, including risk management, insurance, technical setup on cars, photography, videography and scorekeeping.

We got into demolition derbies in 1993 because the LaSalle County 4-H Fair wanted a derby but couldnt afford one, Carol Ramer said. Our family was very active with 4-H at the time, so they approached us because my husband, Paul, had been racing and running in derbies since 1967.

It is a sport we have always enjoyed, and we are trying to bring it back to the average guy rather than who has the most money to put into their car, she said. Having cars that bend and are easier to build are what gives the novice a fair chance to start in derbies, added Jim Beaty, risk manager for Ramer Race Promotions. Beaty is in charge of shutting down the demolition derby track when unsafe situations arise.

Its safety first for all the Ramers, who check fuel systems and make sure batteries are secure, among other things.

We also look at the cars frames to make sure there isnt any added material or modifications not specified in our rules, said Matt Ramer, who carefully inspects each car prior to a demolition derby.

I think the community enjoys coming out to the demolition derby, said Luke Armstrong, chairman of the Morgan County Fairs demolition derby. The last few years the derby has been struggling due to weather and fewer entries. The fair board has been trying to bring better shows to the fair, and we hope this years demolition derby will turn out to be what people want to see.

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Demolition derby's goal is to build up fair