Truck Demolition Derby Rules

The following rules and/or regulations set forth herein are designed to provide for the orderly conduct of the Western Illinois Fair Demolition Derby's and to establish minimum acceptable requirements for such events. These regulations shall govern the condition of all events, and by participating in these events, all participants are deemed to have complied with these rules. No express or implied warranty of safety shall result from publication of or compliance with these rules and/regulations. They are intended as a guide for the conduct of the sport and are in no way a guarantee against injury or death to any participant, spectator, or official.

The Western Illinois Fair Demo Derby Officials shall be empowered to permit minor deviation from any of the specifications herein or impose any further restrictions that in their opinion do not lower the safety factor. Any interpretation or deviation of these rules is left to the discretion of the officials, and their decision is final. The Western Illinois Fair reserves the right to approve and/or reject all entries.

The Western Illinois Fair and its agents of any sort are not responsible for accidents.

Contestants are herewith advised that Pike County Style demolition derbies are destructive derbies run to the last car in motion. We DO NOT have nor enforce rules prohibiting deliberate, destructive contact excepting those required for participant and spectator safety.

There will be non-refundable $100 protest fee due from any contestant who wishes to protest another entrant's vehicle.

These are the rules and they will be enforced!
Let's have fun; if your don't want to, stay at home.
Knock out the windows and derby!

The intent of these rules is to allow for a safe demolition derby event using modified standard size trucks and SUV's, and to specify the modifications that may be made to entrant's vehicles.

These rules dated 05/17/2007 supercede all other rules in existence.

Participant Entries:

1. All derby participants, pit crew, spectators and all others will be expected to behave in a sportsman like manner. There will be a zero tolerance for argument or violence in any form.  Persons determined by any event staff member or law enforcement personnel to be disruptive in any way will be immediately ejected without refund from the property along with their entire party, and will further be subject to arrest and prosecution.

2. All persons must sign an entry form, insurance waiver, and release form, and purchase a pit pass before entering the pit area

3. No one will be allowed in any derby if they are under the influence of alcohol.

4. All drivers must be at least 16 years or older, and must be able to provide proof of age at the request of derby officials. Drivers under 18 years old must have parents or guardian sign waiver and release form for minors. No Exceptions

5. Passengers will be allowed, provided they pay a separate $30 entry fee, and abide by all of the rules and regulations.

Body Regulations:

1. ½ and ¾ ton trucks, vans, suburban, Blazers, Broncos will be accepted, either two or four wheel drive models.

2. Four-wheel drive models will only be allowed to run one drive shaft.

3. All trucks must have drivers door painted white, and numbers must appear on both sides. Special numbers will be allowed subject to the approval of the officials. NO profanity will be allowed to be displayed on the truck.

4. All glass, side and rear windows, headlights, taillights and windshields must be removed before reaching the track. Rolling down the window glass is not permitted.

5. All trucks must have approved seatbelts secured to or around the frame in a substantial manner.

6. Complete removal of the interior is recommended. All trucks must be swept clean including the driver's compartment and bed. No spare tires, broken glass or trash will be allowed.

7. Battery must be relocated to the front floorboard and securely fastened and covered. Only one automobile type battery is allowed.

8. All trucks must have radiator in stock position. If radiator is removed, you may run on water in the block only. No reserve tanks allowed.

9. Side doors must be welded solid, chained, bolted, or wired, but must be secured in one or these manners.

10. A four sided driver protection cage is highly recommended. Cages must not exceed 6 inches in front of doors and may not extend back past cab.

11. Bed can only be mounted in factory mounts. No additional bolts or welds.  Rubber mounts may be removed. Factory bed floor only. Wood floors must have factory metal strips. NO steel replacement floors.

12. The back of the cab may be welded to the bed. Tailgate may be welded. No other reinforcing will be allowed.

13. Stock gas tanks must be removed and replaced with an internal tank. A marine tank is recommended. Tank must be mounted in the cab or front center of the bed and securely bolted in place. All tanks must have secure caps and must be covered with a splash shield. All lines and fittings must be leak proof and meet approval of officials. Fuel lines may be metal or rubber. Electric fuel pumps are permitted but must have a shutoff within reach of the driver. No tank larger than 6-gallon size will be permitted.

14. Bumpers must be a stock OEM bumper; homemade bumpers are not allowed.. Shock absorber bumpers may be installed on trucks originally equipped with a bracket-mounted bumper. These installations must be accomplished with a production bumper shock bolted or welded to front frame. Amount of all welds may not exceed stock installation. Do not pile up beads; a single bead will be allowed in permitted places. Do not make bumper shocks from pipe, steel, or other materials. Do not add extra metal to this installation. Bumper manufacture does not have to match the truck manufacture. Front and rear bumpers must be chained with a maximum of 4 short pieces of chain between the bumper and the frame or both. An unlimited amount of # 9 wire is allowed between hood, frame, fenders, and core support, etc. to front bumper for securement purposes.

15. All hoods must have holes over the carburetor for fire extinguisher access.

16. Hoods must open for inspection upon request of officials.

17. All frames must remain in OEM stock outside no weld zones. Don’t add cable, wire or chain tensioning in or outside of frame. Any driver caught with an altered frame at check in will not be allowed to enter that truck.

18. Inner fenders may be wired to frame but not bolted or welded. Wheel well openings may be sheet metal screwed or bolted with 3/8 maximum diameter bolts. Two loops of #9 wire or cable will be allowed to secure rear of body to rear axle housing. One length of chain will be allowed between frame rails. Chain must be located between rear axle and rear bumper.

19. Suspension must remain stock.
    1.  No stiff suspension; all trucks must have original give and bounce. 
    2.  Do not weld suspension components including upper and lower control arms, tie rods, etc.
    3.  Rear coil springs may be welded or clamped.
    4.  Screw in spring risers or blocks may be allowed at the discretion of the officials.
    5.  Trucks must have the original type suspension; do not change leaf spring trucks to coil springs, or coil spring trucks to leaf springs.
    6.  Do not weld leaf springs.
    7. You may NOT add leaves to spring assemblies.  The number of spring leaves must be the same as the manufacturer originally delivered the stock, standard truck!
    8.  The suspension may not be modified in any way except as specifically noted in #2 or #3 above.

20. Trailer hitches must be removed. Class A or frame mounted hitches must be totally removed. Class B or bumper-mounted hitches must have the trailer ball and stub cut off.

21. Frame must remain stock. Absolutely no fillers inside or added reinforcement outside frame. Do not weld frame seams. Repairs must be made to a broken or rusted frame and must meet approval of officials. Do not use camouflage materials on frame.

 Engine, Transmission, Rear end Regulations: 

1. Any engine or transmission may be used in any truck, but must be mounted in a stock position. On a V-block engine, front spark plug must be even with or in front of upper ball joint. On in-line engines, number 2 spark plug must be even or in front of upper ball joint.

2. Chained, welded or homemade mounts are permitted and recommended. They must meet the approval of officials.

3. Exhaust is preferred to be upright out of hood.

4. Any type header is allowed but must be directed away from driver compartment and other competitors.

5. Radiators must stay in stock position and may not have anything in front of them. 

6. Radiator overflow must be directed to the ground.

7. Transmission coolers are permitted; all mounting, lines and fittings must be approved by officials.

8. Any type rear end can be used in any truck. Homemade spring perches or trailing arm brackets may be welded to rear end.

9. Any drive shaft or u-joint may be used. Welding of drive shaft is permitted.

10. All trucks must have working brakes.

11. Only gasoline and diesel fuels are allowed.  No alcohol or other alternative fuels are allowed.

Tires

1. All tires and wheels must be pre-approved.

2. Implement, bar and light truck tires are permitted.

3. No split rims.  Doubled tires are allowed.

4. All wheels and rims must be stock. No welding or reinforcing allowed.

5. Liquid in tires is permitted. Studs or screws in rims to hold tires will be permitted.

6. Valve stem protectors are allowed.

Racing Regulations:

1. All drivers must wear approved helmets, long pants, shirts and eye protection.  Drivers must also wear seat belts.

2. Entries will be limited to one car per driver per show.

3. Drivers may change cars for the feature providing the car changed to has run in a prior heat. Officials must be notified of any car changes before the feature.

4. A mandatory drivers meeting will be held before the start of the show.

5. All cars should be signed in at least 1 hour before posted starting time, and must be inspected before the race.

6. Derby shall consist of heat races, a consolation race and a feature.

7. Drivers must make aggressive contact with competitors; failure to do so may result in disqualification for sandbagging. Disabled cars will be allowed three minutes restart the car and make contact.  Time limits will be at the absolute discretion of the officials.

8. Intentional driver’s door contact will not be tolerated. The first infraction will result in a warning, the second in disqualification.

9. A driver is allowed one fire per heat. If a car catches on fire for the second time in a heat, in will result in the car being called "out" for that heat (but NOT disqualified).

10. Any disqualified car will not be eligible for the consolation (Driver AND car).

11. All decisions of the officials and flagmen are final.

Note: