WELLINGTON — Imagine driving like a bat out of Hades with destruction on your mind. Well, that’s exactly the goal of the wildly popular demolition derby, which as always will close out the 164th Lorain County Fair on Sunday.

“It’s an unexplainable rush,” said participant Henry Leonardi.

That’s because the demo derby has it all, said Ed Nowak, the fair superintendent in charge of the event.

“It’s ageless — they love to see them crash,” Nowak said of the crowds. “I loved to go to the demolition derby when I was a kid — it’s as popular today as it was back then.”

This year you will see plenty of crashes because there are almost 140 competitors, some from out of Lorain County and even out of the state.

“For the first time in the history of the Lorain County Fair, we opened up who could participate,” Nowak said.

Check out a slideshow from past years’ demolition derbies:

He said he opened up the field when initial entries appeared low this year. In other counties, some demo derbies are hurting for competitors, but he is satisfied with the number of participating drivers once the field was broadened to beyond Lorain County. Nowak said he does not know if this is among the biggest fields ever.

The derbies — there are two of them each year — are set for 6 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday. There are three heats per show, plus a special demo derby for compact cars each show.

Year after year, the derby attracts competitors who enjoy the rush, he said.

People in the crowd also have their favorites, he said.

“It’s like a rock concert — they have their following,” he said.

The competition does sometimes go a bit overboard, Nowak said.

For example, the intense rivalry between groups known as the Grafton Lynch Mob and Henrietta Hillbillies is legendary — both enter a bunch of cars and do well, but Nowak said, the fair board tries to discourage such collaborations because of the potential for trouble on and off the arena.

Rivalries aside, the competition isn’t an easy one in which to participate.

Three pages of rules on the fair’s Web site clearly list do’s and don’ts, but that doesn’t mean participants don’t try to bend the rules, according to Nowak.

Some modifications are allowed under fair rules, but unscrupulous competitors have tried all kind of tricks that aren’t, such as filling portions of their cars with concrete to make them more dangerous to other competitors.

The fair is used to the tricks and cheaters should beware, he said.

“We drill a hole in the frame and look up there with a camera,” Nowak said.

Also, those who deliberately try to smash into the driver’s door or other “no-no’s” are tossed out of the competition by spotters in the towers and on the ground, he said.

In the years since it was introduced, the derby’s popularity has grown with a new group of drivers: teen-age girls and women. And, Nowak said, there is money to be made if you are a skilled driver and have a measure of luck.

It costs just $15 to enter, but winners of the heats take home $700.

And, despite all the crashing and bashing, injuries usually are limited to bumps and bruises. The worst that has happened was several years ago, when one woman suffered a broken arm, Nowak said.

Demolition derby rules

• Participants must have a driver’s license and those under age 18 must have the permission of a parent or guardian.
• Any stock type auto may be used, but no trucks, taxis, hearses, convertibles or Chrysler Imperials older than 1967 are permitted.
• An engine swap is allowed. If broken, the body mount may be repaired – not to exceed the original factory specifications. Holes may be cut in the firewall by the distributor. However, the holes must be covered with light metal. All vehicles will be inspected to ensure compliance.
• Car doors shall be chained or welded. There are no restrictions on the driver’s door. All other doors may have no more than two 2-inch by 6-inch straps welded over seam of door jam. If chain is used, keep the length of chain short. You may weld or bolt a piece of 2-inch diameter pipe with flat stock no more than 6-inch by 6-inch welded to end of pipe to inside of door or door post. Hoods must have a 12-inch hole cut in the middle to allow for quick extinguishing of fires. All cars will use a quick type hood pin release system in the front of the hood. Pins are not to be longer than 12 inches and are to be attached to core support.
• All glass windows except windshields will be removed from the vehicle, not broken out. Remove all chrome strips, door handles, metal & plastic insignias, grills, parking & taillight frames, and all debris.
• Drivers must wear a helmet & eye protection while in competition. Seat belts shall be left in stock mountings. Shoulder belt may be added.
• Stock gas tanks must be removed from the car. A steel commercially produced or homemade gas can, not capable of holding more than 5 gallons of gasoline shall be mounted in the center rear of the passenger compartment.
• All hoods and trunks must open completely at time of inspection. After inspection, trunks and tailgates may be secured by two short chains, one on either side. The chains may go around the bumper. The tailgate position is optional, but must be secured in place.
• Radiators must be left in stock position. Remove anti-freeze. There should be no structural strengthening of the car.
  New this year is a requirement that a 24-inch by 24-inch plaque should be mounted on the center of the roof area with the car number.
• Suspensions shall remain strictly stock with no coil to leaf conversions. Shocks and springs shall remain stock. Coil spring cars may use wire or small amount of weld at the base of the spring to keep the springs from coming out of the vehicle at impact. No other modifications may be made to the underside such as frame switching or subframe trading.
• Vehicle bumpers must be the same as the make and size of the vehicle they are on. GM to GM, Ford to Ford, Chrysler to Chrysler, Compact to Compact, Full Size to Full Size, and so on.
• Complete set of rules are at www.loraincountyfair.com.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.