Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Announcements (Updated: July 11, 2018)

Welcome to Swifty's Garage!


Thanks to all of you for making this board what it is today!


Attention new members: We would like to welcome you personally, so please introduce yourself. Click here: INTRODUCTIONS


For all the latest news and announcements, please click here: PA System



Thank you - The Swifty's Garage Team




This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution

Car of the Week:


Matchbox 1968 Ford F-100


Click Here: Matchbox '68 Ford F-100
Welcome to Swifty's Garage. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Thank You,
The Swifty's Garage Team


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features.

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Cowboy Crash; Rock Springs, Wyoming
Topic Started: Aug 26 2009, 07:28 PM (726 Views)
craftymore
Member Avatar
Support your local demo derby.

While on vacation in Wyoming this year, I took in my first derby out west. My first exposure to this derby was a clip on youtube of the derby from '07 which featured Imperials. I later received DVDs of both the '07 and '08 Cowboy Crash derbies. My dad and I then decided that we'd plan our vacation this year around the '09 derby at Rock Springs. RS is in the southwest corner of Wyoming off of I-80. All in all, about 1200+ miles.

The local fire dept has been promoting this derby as a fundraiser for both the dept and for local charitable causes. It's held at the Sweetwater Events Complex in the northern part of Rock Springs. It's HUGE as in addition to the 1 mile long circle track they also have a golf course, off road dirt bike course plus an indoor horse riding center.

'07 was the last year for Imperials as they were banned for '08. First, you have to have an understanding about the rules. In most places out west, you can weld all outer seams on the car. They aren't kidding either as doors, trunks and hoods are welded shut. They don't allow any welding on the frames at all other than what's permitted to weld the bumpers onto the frames. They do allow leaf spring conversions however, up to 9 leafs per side under the rear axles. So since Imperials are banned, the cars to have seem to be '73-'76 Caddys and suicide door Lincolns from the 60s.

This is a two day event that took place on the first Friday/Saturday of August. They ran a pure stock 80s class, modified qualifying heats, and compacts on Friday. Saturday they ran four consi heats, trucks, modified feature and a round of powder puff(girls).

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image
This is Brent Woolard and Torry Thomas. Brent is the lead announcer for Westsound TV which is based out of Washington state. They have traveled out to Rock Springs the past 3 years to record the show for ppv as well as for DVDs. Torry, who is a RS native, won the '07 Cowboy Crash in a '73 Imperial.
Posted Image

This is the stock 80s class. Other than the option of welding the doors shut and running a 4 point cage, these cars are pure stock. Ya had to run the stock engine, stock bumpers and stock suspension. Pretty much a throwback class like all derbies use to be back in the 60s and 70s. An '83 Chevy wagon won.
Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
craftymore
Member Avatar
Support your local demo derby.

Compacts
Posted Image

'81 Honda
Posted Image

Posted Image

The Chevette on the left had leaf spring conversions, the first time I've seen anyone take that much time and effort to make a Chevette competitive. It wouldn't matter as the Pinto took 1st.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
craftymore
Member Avatar
Support your local demo derby.

I have some other pics which I'll post on Thursday.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
craftymore
Member Avatar
Support your local demo derby.

Assorted pics from the feature. All in all, they had about 45 full size cars in the modified class which featured only '79 and older cars.
Posted Image

'68 Fury wagon
Posted Image

Buick Riveria & Lincoln MArk V battle in the feature.
Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

#70 took 1st place and $3000. The KTF #54 Caddy took 2nd and $1500 and the all black #357 suicide Lincoln took 3rd and $1000. The yellow Mark V took 4th and I think $500. Like I mentioned before, it was freaking cold! It's the only derby I've ever been to in the month of August that I needed a jacket! :o Have to hand to the drivers, nearly everyone drove like a mad dog which is the way derbies use to be that I watched back in the early 90s back here in Illinois. Full track hits were plentiful. Cowboy Crash lived up to the drivers billing as the hardest hitting derby in Wyoming.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Swifty
Member Avatar
The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
Thanks for the pics!

My first thought- what's the red wagon #9? Looks like a late '60s Ford of some sort?

Second thought- is that a hearse competing?!?

And final thought- if car #27 won the compact heat, it's a Mustang II not a Pinto.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
craftymore
Member Avatar
Support your local demo derby.

Glad you like the pics Sean. The red wagon was a late 60s Ford. I think you'd mentioned before on here that mid to late 60s Fords could be competitive in derbies. They aren't! '65-'73 full size Fords only had c-Channel frames and coil springs in the back. Makes for pretty soft cars for crashing.

Yup, that's a Caddy Hearse. The local fire, police and ambulance agencies have a yearly grudge match. A Mark V Lincoln, box 80s Lincoln, Chevy roundback and the Hearse competed in the bragging rights derby. The Hearse won and the box 80s Lincoln took 2nd.

Think you might be right about the '24 car, the announcer kept calling it a Pinto and that's what I ran with.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Enjoy forums? Start your own community for free.
Learn More · Register for Free
« Previous Topic · Crash Car Raceway: Bangers, Demo Derby Cars, Monster Trucks, Tractor Pullers, Mud Boggers, & More · Next Topic »
Add Reply



March's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations DinoMom for winning March's contest!



April's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations carsdownunder for winning April's contest!






Powered By

This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution


eXTReMe Tracker