Get revved up for some crashing

by Cindy Glasson

Get revved up for the Thermopolis Demolition Derby this Saturday, August 17 at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds, starting at 6 p.m.

Grand prize for 2019 is $3,500 with the second place winner taking home $2,000 and third place brings in $1,000 plus trophies for the top three winners and the M.A.D. Dog trophy.

If you’re more interested in the truck derby, first place garners the winner $1,500 and the Herby Derby boasts a $500 prize. Additional prizes in both of these classes will depend on how many entries they have the night of the derby.

And not to be left out, there is also the Power Wheels Derby for the little ones aged four through 10.

Entry fees for the derby are $75 which will include the driver and up to two pit crew members.

Advance tickets are on sale now at $12 for adults, $5 for kids aged five through 12, and $7 for seniors. If you purchase at the gate, adults will be $15, kids $7 and seniors $10. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce, Black Bear Café, Carquest Auto Parts, Hot Rod Station, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts and Storyteller.

For a full list of rules for drivers, please check the chamber’s website at thermopolischamber.org/demolition-derby.

New driver makes

her mark

Saturday night marks what is usually considered the end of summer by most in Hot Springs County when the Demolition Derby hits the dirt at the fairgrounds.

One local family has been making the most of their summer making the rounds of the demolition derbies in surrounding towns and dominating the circuit.

Brad Becerra and his wife Rachel, along with daughter Reagan Severance, have definitely made “derby-ing” a family affair with Brad starting out at 16 with a 1987 Chevy Celebrity.

Reagan has been following dad around since she was about five-years old, doing little things like bringing him bolts, learning the ins and outs of cutting torches and welding as she’s gotten older, and begging to drive the whole time.

She turned 16 this year and Brad knew there was no holding her back now, building her a red, white and blue truck.

Reagan made her debut on the derby field at the Powell derby, earning a third place in her rookie race.

“The scariest thing is getting hit,” she said. “You don’t know how hard it will be and I’m so little I just bounce around. You get really nervous just before you drive in, too, because you don’t know how it’s going to turn out.”

Her advice to anyone wanting to do a demolition derby?

“Definitely have someone with you,” she said. “Its easier to have dad on one side and mom on the other.”

Reagan also drove in the derby in Basin, bringing home second place.

But Brad didn’t have just one truck to build, wife Rachel wanted to drive, too, so he found himself working to get two trucks ready.

This wasn’t Rachel’s first time in the ring, though. Twice she’s competed in the Herbie Derby here in Thermop, but this would be her first go-round with a truck.

“I grew up in it,” Rachel said. “My granddad and my uncle and my brothers all drove. I used to hang out in the garage all the time.”

She said strangely enough it wasn’t hard to watch Reagan drive.

“I was concentrated on her,” she said. “I really didn’t see anyone else. At Basin, when I drove, I was out before she was, so I kept watching her. I didn’t even see Brad!”

Of course, she was a little nervous driving in the truck derby for the first time and said she was nervous right up until she drove in the ring. In talking with others she knows in the derby circuit she found out that was common, even for the guys who have been driving for years.

“It’s been a long summer trying to get two trucks built from scratch and get ready for my deployment in September,” Brad said.

Yes, you read that right, deployment. Becerra is in the Army National Guard and will be heading to Afghanistan the first week of September.

“I’m so happy I have been able to go to Powell and Basin and now Thermopolis for one last bashing before I leave,” he said, “and even better with friends and my family.”

Becerra will be deployed for at least nine months so Saturday night’s derby will be a special one as they will all be driving in the same ring.