Combine Demolition Derby
Picture Page

Photos of Lind, Washington's 2001 Combine Demolition Derby

Although we took the trip up to Lind on the bikes, it was more a trip for the destination rather than a motorcycle trip. We decided to get there via Highway 395, and the portion through Eastern Oregon is definitely a great motorcycle road (particularly the sections through the national forests)!

The event in Lind was the fourteenth annual Combine Demolition Derby. It is held on the Friday before the weekend rodeo. This year, there were 16 entries - including a last minute entry that drove an old combine in from his farm that morning! In addition to the prize ($1,000) for being the 'last one standing', there is also a 'beauty' cash prize for the best decorated.

Each team brings a full support crew, complete with spare wheels, air compressors, welding equipment, cutting torches, and big sledge hammers! Even if a machine is eliminated in an early heat, if they can get it mobile by the last heat, they can still win the event. Of the 16 original entries, 14 managed to cobble their machines back together enough to enter the main event!

Most of these machines are at least 25 years old, and most have been entered in the derby many times, with one of the machines having been beaten up in all thirteen prior events!

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 #14 - The Beaver Patrol
One of the more imaginatively decorated machines.
 #11 - Jaws
Complete with manikin victim and fins. Jaws (one of four John Deeres) was the eventual winner of this year's derby.
#13 - BC Machine
The arrival of another entrant (an International Harvester), complete with support vehicle carrying the tools, compressor, generator and welding outfit.
 #2 - Mickey Mouse
Got to have a Mickey Mouse in a contest like this (one of the three McCormick's).
 #3 - Slim's Crew
Making an entrance onto the field of combat for the 'Beauty' contest.
#11 - Jaws
Kicking up a little mud on entry.
 #12 - Big Willie
Cutting donuts in the mud to rev up the crowd and intimidate his opponents (didn't work).
 14 of the 16
14 out of the 16 entrants competed for the 'Best Dressed' prize (as determined by audience response).
LET THE CONTEST BEGIN! The first encounter of the first heat.
Ganging up on the guy in the middle. The referee is either the bravest or craziest one out there!
Picking on someone else this time. The sounds of collision, tearing metal, and popping tires is not something one should hope to encounter every day.
A few more good hits.
Let's all have a little meeting here in the middle!
Taking out a back end.
A pushing contest.
Heat's over, time to clear away the carcases to see if it can be hammered and welded back in shape for the Main Event. This one was!
This one came back too!
Next heat, and Jaws has left a major weapon laying on the field of battle.
Trying to capitalize on the weakness.
But there is a lot of umphf left as The Beaver Patrol is finding out.
Mean Gang-Green is trying to take out Big Willie's steering wheels (a standard tactic).
Another heat, more debris - both made it back for the Final.
Stacking them up.
First time in the Derby's history that a combine has been tossed on it's side! This was the last minute entry, but he won't be driving it back to the farm.
A major snarl - the guy on the right is 'dead' and has become a spectator that the others have to work around.
And still, the mayhem continues.
At the end of the last heat, the littlest contestant had to be carried off the field of battle, but he showed some true grit (or a really low IQ).

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