Demo Derby Days

Yup, I'm still around...just couldn't think of anything to say!

So while trying to find a picture for a post, (the weather is dull, the knitting nonexistent and the cats aren't particularly interesting right now either) I found 1st DS's first demolition derby car. I thought it might make an interesting post and that it is summer with all the lush green grass probably doesn't hurt either!

These pictures are after the derby. It didn't look great going in but not this bad!

Right after college 1st DS got a job in a town in NE North Dakota and met new people and made good friends. One of those friends was into demo derbies. And so they concocted the idea to get a car ready for a derby.

It takes quite a lot of time, planning and effort. Certain cars are more desired than others and there are some that are not allowed because they are so durable and heavy duty.

The gas tank was removed and the plumbing redone so there was just a small gas can inside the car. Some people screwed the tires to the wheels so they couldn't go flat. The trunk was screwed to the body. All the doors were welded shut. All glass was removed. And there were probably some super secret things that each contestant did that they thought was the best way to reinforce their cars.

The fun part was deciding what paint job to give it. One of the harder things was getting sponsors to give you money so you could afford to do a derby car at all.

The derbys were held in an open field that had high dirt barriers pushed up around the area where the cars bashed into each other.

There was usually some seating provided but mostly people arrived in their pickups, backed up to the ring and sat in lawn chairs in the back end of the pickup. There was also usually an organization selling food as a fund raiser but lots of people brought their own.

The cars were inspected before anything started to make sure they had done everything they were supposed to and to have not done anything against the rules.

They were required to wear a helmet, a long sleeved shirt and have a fire extinguisher inside the car during the derby. There were several heats and if you could survive your first you could work on your car until it was your turn again. And so they always took a pickup loaded with tools, air compressor and a generator for power. It helps to be a farm boy with access to dad's shop!

But one of the most important things to bring is this:

Yea, it was a bit nerve wracking but all 3 of our boys are excellent drivers and have enough common sense to get them by and so I relaxed and enjoyed the shows. Yes. This was the 1st of...if I remember correctly...3 derby cars!

Lights on your dash means living in a car repair black hole

I had been having warning lights in my dash being on every once in awhile. I had asked the car dealership about it. They tried to read the code the lights were throwing but no success. They were too slow and the lights were off by the time the got around to it. o.0

So I made an appointment to come in and get it checked out. They said it would take 2-3 hours. I brought a book and my Fountain Pen Shawl which I was working on at the time. It took at least 5-6 hours with no solution. o.0

Finally all 5 of the lights that came on were on at once. Plus the fan for the air conditioning didn't work then either. I was in the big city, so I drove it in to the dealership service department and they asked if I had time to wait. I told them no I have to get to work. I knew if they waited to long the lights would be off and the opportunity would be lost and I was on my way to a rant. The service man was just smart enough to realize he had a woman about to explode and asked what I wanted done. I told them to read the code from the lights so we could find out what is going on. o.0

It took them 5 minutes total to get the machine, plug it into the car and wait for the results. Can you tell my why they wanted me to wait for that?? o.0

So we made an appointment. I took the car in and got it fixed. It needed a new starter switch.

Okay. I brought the car home, filled it with gas and put it in the garage. Got out of the car and heard this loud whooshing sound. Yes. Tire going flat. o.0

Took the car to our local gas station and had the tire repaired. Went back later that evening to get the car. Window was rolled down. Key forward. Battery mostly dead. Just enough juice to close the window and lock the doors. The gas station was closed for the night. o.0

Went back the next day and the battery had recovered enough to start the car. On DH's advice I drove around for 1/2 hour to recharge the battery.

Finally got my car home after having lights on in dash, flat tire and dead battery. 3 things. That should do it right? I hope so.

On the knitterly front this is what the Norwegian Woods Shawl looks like now:


A closeup of the beads I'm adding.


It didn't call for beads there but I'm experimenting.




I've got about 1/2 of the 2nd repeat of the 2nd chart left. It's moving right along even if I'm not knitting every day!

And weatherwise, we've had cool fall weather and now this:





Nice warm temperatures.....





Clear skies and a little wind. Just the right thing for harvest. :)

/can't get the words and the pictures to stay together. blogger drives me nuts sometimes. o.0