{"id":29124,"date":"2024-02-22T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/demolition-derby-back-on-for-2024-la-plata-county-fair\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T00:49:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:49:15","slug":"demolition-derby-back-on-for-2024-la-plata-county-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/demolition-derby-back-on-for-2024-la-plata-county-fair\/","title":{"rendered":"Demolition derby back on for 2024 La Plata County Fair"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Some
Some of those involved with the demolition derby ran a float in the Snowdown Light Parade on Feb. 2 asking for support to \u201cbring back the demolition derby.\u201d (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Demolitionists, start your engines. And then prepare to have them smashed.<\/p>\n

The annual demolition derby at the La Plata County Fair, which had been in jeopardy, is back on. The event will be held this year at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds in Ignacio.<\/p>\n

The fair board turned to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe as it become increasingly clear that La Plata County commissioners would not allow the event to take place at the fairgrounds owned by the county.<\/p>\n

In September, county officials informed<\/a> the fair board that the annual blockbusting smash-em-up event would not be permitted to take place citing liability concerns. The county does not run the fair, but it does rent the fairgrounds property to the independent organization that holds the event.<\/p>\n

Organizers and derby participants were outraged by the decision. The event is one of the largest sources of income for the fair. Fair Board President Amy Peterson estimated the event raked in about $30,000 last year and said that without it, the fair\u2019s future could be in jeopardy.<\/p>\n

And so it was with great joy that fair board members are celebrating the revival of the derby.<\/p>\n

Although the board is still hammering out the final details of a contract, organizer Tiffany Griffith said she is looking forward to holding the event again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a staple to our fair, and so the thought of that not happening \u2013 it just didn\u2019t sit well with many of us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

No, the derby will not be held at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. But the event is happening during the fair, in La Plata County.<\/p>\n

The new location comes with its own upsides and downsides.<\/p>\n

Although the event will not occur at the site of the other fair activities, the Ignacio location does add capacity for about 400 additional seats to the typically sold-out event.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get lemons, we make lemonade out of it,\u201d said Ralph Brawley, a longtime organizer and supporter of the derby.<\/p>\n

County commissioners had raised concerns about holding the event in a mixed-use arena and what risk that could pose to livestock and spectators. Ultimately, officials decided the potential liability that taxpayers would assume was too great a risk to take.<\/p>\n

Although Brawley still feels the decision has not been adequately explained, he too expressed optimism about the future of the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe derby will continue because we have a great following, a bigger venue, (and) hopefully we make more money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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