Gary Elliott Motorsports→Categories Demo Derby

1967 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

My First Demolition Derby..July 29th 1967…Win!!

55 Chev

This was my first time ever on a race track. It was at Flamboro Speedway on July 29th 67′. I always painted my cars with the name “Color Me 1st”. On this one, I put powered by Honda on the front fender and yeah Dodge on the back. I guess that’s where it all started for me and the multi representation of car manufacturers. In a few years I will run a 36 Dodge with a Chev motor sponsored by Dixie Ford. There were 34 cars in this race. I use to watch Wreck-Em races and always cheered for the car who smashed everything in sight. No one liked the driver who hid from the action or faked stalling so others would be eliminated while he played possum. Usually those guys got booed. After the smoke settled there was nothing left of this 55 Chev 2 door hard top…did I say 55 Chev?…It’s true they were very popular at that time, but don’t worry this one was severly rusted, and for the restoring buff there were tons to pick from….4 months after this race I woul ask Nonie out on our first date. (a little family trivia).

1968 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

Flamboro Speedway….1968

57 Chev

This Chev let me dwon. It quit and wouldn’t restart. There were always lots of cars in the Flamboro Wreck Em races and unless you had a good running car you were beat. I bashed with many guys who liked the big heavy tanks, Mecurys, Buicks and full size GM’s. They were good for hammering other cars but they overheated quick.

Flamboro Speedway….1968

57 Chev

Always Color Me 1st…didn’t always finish first.

Demo car for Pinecrest…

59 Ford

I tried using Ford for awhile. This Ford was sponsored by teh Samaritones. They were a musucial groukp that went around to nursing homes and hospitals playing for the patients. I was asked to play by the Minister who organized it to try and get kids off the street. My main reason for joining was so I could be with Nonie who also was a member of this group. I asked Nonie to go steady in February of 68 and she said yes. Later on the Samaritones would put $25 into getting this car ready. It didn’t do to well.

1969 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

Demo Derby Win at Acton Speedway Fall 69′

59 Chev

When I got to Acton Speedway, this 59 Chev was for sale for $50. I bought it and won $125 for the Wreck Em race. The reason I took Chevy’s with sixes was because they always started when they got hot. My goal was to destroy the car so bad I coudln’t take it home with me.

Color Me 1st…Acton Speedway

59 Chev

Acton Speedway…1969

56 Chev

This Chevy didn’t last either. It was beat up pretty bad.

Acton Speedway…1969

56 Chev

Late summer 69.

Pinecrest Demolition Derby

59 Ford

First win with a Ford….This car had no lettering on it. I must not have had time to get it done. I always put Color Me 1st on th side and UFO on the door.I got warned for speeding in this race and we ended up winning it.

Pinecrest Demolition Derby

59 Ford

Pinecrest Labour Day Wreck A Rama…$500 to Win

Hillman

Pinecrest had an annual Labour Day wreck em’ race event. It lasted all day with heats and a feature. The grand prize was $500 to win, that would be about 2 months pay. There were 3 ways to get in the feature. Cars with the most spectacular paint scheme or lettering or appearance were voted on by the fans. The 3 winners were automatically qualified for the feature. Before the heats started they drew 10 names out of a hat. Those names drawn did not have to go in the heat but could save their car for the feature. Over 100 cars showed up. They put compacts in the same heat and big cars in a separate heat. The 6 heat winners qualified for the big race. They could use a differnt car because the one they won the heat with wouldn’t be much good. The reason I say that is because if a guy sand bagged the crowd would boo him so that he wouldn’t win even if he was the alst car running. That was the rule on determining the winner, the last car running..the best show for the fans was seeing the last 2 cars being the ones who put on the best show, but a few guys who really put on a show were knocked out near the end…We got a sponsor New York Auto Wreckers who supplied me with 3 cars. The Hillman, a 52 Chev and a 56 Pontiac six cylinder. I tried to make sure I was in the feature, so Nonie and I decked this Hillman with stuffed annimals and tree branches and called it “Animal Kingdom”. I would have won in the 3 appearance awards if the winner of the first category went off after he won, but he stayed out. The announcer walked by the cars on parade and held his flag above each car to get the crowds response for the 3 category’s and he won every time. It didn’t seem fair. They changed that system in 1970. After the parade was over we went to the pits for a drivers meeting and the name draw. I did get my name drawn out of the hat so I was guaranteed a start in the feature.

Pinecrest Labour Day Wreck A Rama…$500 to Win

52 Chev

I decided to enter the races anyway even though I was qualified. I saved the Pontiac for the Feature. I took some nasty licks in this very rugged car. The steering wheel was jammed and I couldn’t steer or move. I limped out of it. I also entered the Hillman and didn’t fair good with it either, so it’s good I got my name drawn for a chance for the big one.

What A Day To Remember…We Win!!!

56 Pontiac

Twenty cars started this wreckem race and at the end it was me and Brian Hill. Brian had a 60 Chev. He was experienced at Demo Derby’s and won his fair share. Our cars were destroyed and we kept hammering each other to the delight of the fans. We were crawling around trying to find a way to deliver the fatal blow. He finally hit me so hard that the carb broke off the intake and was just hanging by the linkage. Every bash sent the fans cheering. My car quit and there was silence. I pumped the throttle and it started and a roar went up again as Brian and I faced each other. I was about to hit him again he put his car in gear for another blow, hoping to finish me off. I knew I was in trouble because I had a hard time pushing the throttle, my car was barely idling. Suddenly his car quit and a huge plume of steam came from his rad. That was it the starter waved the checker to me and at the second he did my car burst into flames. I litterally dove out onto the track and the safey crew put out the fire. What a day for us. Perhaps one of my most memorable ever…it would take a long time for my wide eyes and smile to subside. Nonie was very happy, it was a huge amount of money.

A Trophy, A Case of Oil and $500

Pinecrest

My Mom Shirley and Nonie

Pinecrest Win

Nonie was there as well as my mom and dad. What a day for them too.

My Mom Shirley and Nonie

Pinecrest Win

Big Win

Pinecrest Win

Horin Auto Wreckers Staff

Wreckers

We made a deal that Horin’s Auto Wreckers would give me the cars and if I won I would split the money with them. We took my costs off the top and split the rest. It was a good deal for me and them. They allowed me to work at the yard to strip the cars and get them ready.

Horin Auto Wreckers Staff

Wreckers

These cars likely never seen as much exceitement in their lifetime as they did on Labour Day. They sort of went out in a blaze, well the 56 Pontiac did for sure.

Horin Auto Wreckers

Wreckers

1970 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

Barrie Ice Carnival…1970

63 Ford

Nonie and i went to Barrie and entered this race plus a demo derby. I was miles out of their league. Every car but one or two had bolts coming through their tires. I had plain wore out snow tires. We had heat races on the ice and naturally I didn’t do well. I will say this dirtis better than ice and snow.

1971 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

We Make Front Page of the Pinecrest Program

Pinecrest

The 1971 labour Day Wreck O Rama featured me on this program. I would end up qualifying again in the appearance category but after a few minutes the gas tank was knocked out of my car.

Pinecrest Write Up

Won 6 out of 20

I had a great average in demolition derbys. I had won 6 of the races I was in and finsihed 2nd or 3rd in a few others. I had a 30% win ratio, and 50% in the money. I would have loved to take that winning ratio into stock car racing.