The crowd rises to its feet as dirt and debris fly across a pit in the center of the Action Sports Arena.
In nearly a dozen years of working demolition derby events at the Orange County Fair, public address speaker Larry Huffman has witnessed such responses from the masses on a regular basis.
“We have a full house every year,” Huffman said. “We did a race a few years ago on a Saturday afternoon and the crowd was 10 or 15 percent down, but everything else, every night, is completely sold out.”
Huffman is far from his first rodeo, but the excitement he brings to the show carries over to the crowd, which feeds off the catchphrases and banter.
Tony Axton, left, and Scott Loughner battle it out during the Motorhome Madness demolition derby.
(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)
Listen carefully and one can hear lines like, “He’s fighting them through mud and blood and beer,” which couldn’t be more true in the two-act show that was the Figure-8 race and demolition derby. Motorhome Madness. Wednesday night.
Chalk lines define the race course for the six-car, 12-lap kart race. Within moments, they disappear under mounds of dirt as chaos ensues. Sprint is on the move – one that is not for the faint of heart.
An air of lawlessness hangs over the pit as cars go four-wide into a corner, threatening to put one on the wall. And if you think that sounds dangerous, one certainly doesn’t want to fall off the beat, setting themselves up for disaster when the cars meet at the intersection of the once-pristine infinity symbol.
Greg Fisher, with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, in car #18, competes against Rich Sanchez, with the Huntington Beach Fire Department, right, and other competitors during the figure 8 race at the Orange County Fair.
(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)
“I was talking to one of the drivers afterwards [Thursday] event of the night,” Huffman said. “He says, ‘You know, we can hear every word you say in our helmets while we’re competing,’ and I thought it was interesting because they can react to what I’m reacting to.”
After a few rounds of spinning and trading paint, the race is over, crowning Greg Fisher of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Then it’s time for the main event.
One by one, the RVs explode into what will soon resemble a junkyard. The grand entrances delight the approximately 5,700 people in attendance, who watch vehicles equipped with traffic lights and police lights.
Oscar Yomamato, left, Joe Jimenez, center, and Tony Axton, right, battle it out during the Motorhome Madness demolition derby.
(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)
Already one RV short of five planned, one of them has radiator issues, steam coming from under the hood. That didn’t stop Fountain Valley resident Tony Axton, 44, from staying in the fight and coming out on top.
“I’ve been a resident of Fountain Valley for 45 years now,” said Axton, who also won demolition derby events at the fair in 2016 and 2017. “I love the place, everything about it, and I love making this red stuff. It’s the best adventure and I have fun doing it. I’ve been here the last 18 years. I’ve been racing the last 12.”
Axton, who said he served in the Marine Corps, showed his support for the armed forces with banners that hung from his vehicle, including one featuring an American flag with the words: “These colors do not pass.”
Driver Tony Axton, of Fountain Valley, raises his hands in victory after the Motorhome Madness demolition derby.
(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)
Reckless flips defined motorcycle madness, as drivers tried to use the rear of their vehicles to cause serious damage. With less traffic in the arena, RVs can use the immediate length to increase speed, looking to put their competitors out of commission.
“The less vehicles there are, the better I can run and get a good shot,” Axton said. “I want to be able to do as much damage as I can on these other vehicles, and then take care of the bottom so I can get the last shot in.”
The fair now features several demolition derby events, including Orange Crush and Damsels of Destruction. Dan Gaines, director of entertainment for the fair, said the automotive events are a hot ticket.
A crowd of about 5,700 watches the Motorhome Madness demolition derby at the Orange County Fairgrounds on Wednesday.
(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)
“From the first time we tried it, it just blew me away,” Gaines said. “As popular as the standard demolition derby events are, the popularity of the RV simply dwarfs them. I think it has to do with the construction of these vehicles – there isn’t much to them.
“If you were my friend and you were talking about buying one, I’d say, ‘You might want to find the strongest one,’ because when these things crash, they fall apart. If it was on the freeway, it wouldn’t be pretty, so I think it goes beyond just cars hitting each other. It’s hitting each other and then it’s just falling apart.”
Oscar Yomamato, left, and Scott Loughner, right, collide during the Motorhome Madness demolition derby.
(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)
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