'It's more than just a derby': Demo drivers revved up for 2022 fair

The 2022 Lorain County Fair Demolition Derby will roar to a start at 4 p.m. Aug. 28, in front of the grandstands. There are multiple classes, from Kids Powerwheels to Street Stock, Youth Compacts and Truck classes this year. Demo cars are heavily modified: Gas tanks and batteries have to be moved around on the car and secured, windows, plastic molding, mirrors and bumpers must be removed and doors welded shut. And those are just a few of the dozens of modification rules drivers have to follow for fairness and safety. Some derby veterans and a few newcomers shared their stories with The Chronicle-Telegram. Here are just a few: The team Mark Aliff of Sheffield has been doing the Demo Derby for 22 years now and his daughter Markie is in her second year competing. Their "Fat Boy Demo Team" has joined forces with the Taylor family of Elyria to race for "Ashton's Army," named for young Ashton Taylor, who is battling cancer. This year, he not only built out a 1999 Saturn, No. 03, for him and his daughter but found Ashton's sister Keilee and her father Joe a 2003 Honda Civic, No. 24, that he made ready. Because the girls are both 13 and entered in the Youth Compact class, at least one adult has to ride with them. Marc Aliff said the families have known each other for a few years and he was happy to give them something to remember. The rookie Olivia Halliwell, 14, of Henrietta Township will be racing the No. 704 car, a 1996 Toyota Camry, with her dad in the Youth class. Growing up watching her father, Nick, compete lit the fire and she has been "wanting to do it since I was a kid." She started with the car from Black River Auto Salvage and spent a month working to make it ready for the derby. Her car's number is the reverse of her father's derby number, said Olivia, who added that she hopes to carry on the family legacy "for years to come." "I really look up to him," she said. "I'm really excited to keep it going and I hope it works out good." The proud dad David Munyan will be watching as his son Ryan, 20, of Wellington, takes No. 45 — a 1988 Ford Crown Victoria — out on the track in the Street Stock class. Retired from demo derby for the past few years, "I'm the pit crew now," he said. But he'll be cheering Ryan from the sidelines. It's Ryan's sixth year in the Demo Derby and he's the fourth generation in his family to do so. His grandfather and great-grandfather were demo derby drivers. David Munyan started his own demo derby career in Medina nearly 30 years ago, running late '60s Chrysler Furys and Imperials with a friend. While he's admittedly "a little more nervous watching" his son than when he was behind the wheel, David Munyan said building demo derby cars keeps you out of trouble. When you're building a demo derby car, "you don't have money to buy stupid stuff," he said. The truck couple Becca and Mike Klickner, who live in Huron, are bringing their trucks to the track to do some damage. "The plan is to go out there and have a damn good time," Becca Klickner said. The Lorain County native and mother of two has been running demo derby trucks for eight years, and her husband trucks or cars for nine. Becca Klickner will be in the No. 1027 — a purple full-size Ford F250 Super Duty. Mike Klickner plans to run his No. 16x, a white Dodge Durango mini-truck — which Becca Klickner said has a "Bluey" theme based on the animated children's show on Disney+. Both went to demo derbies with their families growing up. Becca Klickner said her grandfather and aunts took her to the Lorain County Fair when she was young and still living here. "I was always a huge fan. My uncles talked about putting a car together when I turned 16. That didn't happen, but my husband made it happen," she said. One of the other benefits of doing demolition derby is the friends you make, Becca Klickner said. "It's so great to get to know other people and grow friendships we probably wouldn't have had except for this," she said. "It's more than just a derby." For those who haven't already signed up, application forms and rules online at loraincountyfair.com or at the Fair Office, 23000 Fairgrounds Road, Wellington. Non-refundable entry fees are $40 through Sunday; $60 from Monday through 2 p.m. the day of the show, and $100 starting at 2 p.m. the day of the competition. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @DaveOBrienCT.