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Demo derby puts stamp on fair weekend

By the time the 4 p.m. starting horn blared and the flag dropped, 19 drivers had signed up for entry into what is arguably the most popular spectacle at the annual Westlock and District Agricultural Fair — the demolition derby.
Demo Jason Bushaw, David Lawton & Peter Malica
Jason Bushaw crashes into David Lawton in the third heat of the Westlock Demolition Derby during the Westlock and District Agricultural Fair Aug. 19.

By the time the 4 p.m. starting horn blared and the flag dropped, 19 drivers had signed up for entry into what is arguably the most popular spectacle at the annual Westlock and District Agricultural Fair — the demolition derby.

“Start your engines!” was the last thing drivers heard before the overwhelming symphony of revving engines, grinding gears and the gnashing of metal on metal filled their heads and the adrenaline started pumping through their veins.

There was a fewer number of participants than usual this year as some derbies have seen as many as 36 competitors come out to smash each other into oblivion, until only one man and machine remains. The demolition derby lived up to its reputation once again though and kept the grandstands, full of hundreds of spectators, on the edge of their seats and drivers well-secured into theirs as the fair was winding down Aug. 19.

Five-year derby veteran Dylan Boutin, from Westlock, was the winner of this year’s affair and he took home the $2,000 cash prize for all the time and effort spent in getting his machine ready for smashing.

“It feels awesome,” said Boutin, who added it’s only his second win in his derby career after taking the top prize at an event in Fox Creek last year.

“I put over 200 hours into it, just doing everything from the small stuff like wiring it perfectly to installing special driveshafts and rear-ends and the motor and tranny got built. There’s lots of work that goes into it,” he said, adding the prize money, while helpful, doesn’t nearly cover the cost of the modifications he makes to his vehicles.

He currently has three vehicles in the midst of modifications and being brought into derby-ready condition.

“It’s just for fun,” he said, adding he has several other derbies lined up in the coming weeks in New Sarepta  and Warburg, where he hopes his success will continue.

For the event Mark Mirus wound up in second place while Darren Strasdin locked up third.

Barry Boutin won the best-dressed prize, while the Mad Dog Award for the hardest hit of the derby went to Trevor Bushaw.

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