I've done my share of derbies
A common misconception in demo derby is that it's better to hit with the back end... Yes this does protect the radiator :eyeroll: but is sooooo lame... After the first time you full arena plow someone with the front of your "outfit" (they don't call them Rigs, they're outfits) you will never want to pussy foot "back into" someone again.
Now I know what you are thinking, "I'm goin to smash the front of my car"... Only if you get the wrong car, there are several rediculus cars out there that take front on destruction very well... Some infact so well that some derbies don't even allow them.
Some good choices of cars that the best guys use
70s Chrysler cordoba... IMO the best car for the buck, these are actually going up in value because derby guys want them so bad, they have an extremely stout front end and with some simple mods can be turned into a deadly contender, the frame ha a cross price that goes behind the radiator to protect the motor, there is a rubber budging that separates the frame, body and suspension, take that out an the whole front becomes a solid battle axe! also the bumpers are stout metal and hold up well.
Late 70s dodge charger, this is the car I have, it's pretty much the same as a cordoba, several Chrysler cars came with the same cordoba front end, I think my next car might be a crysler town and country station wagon, I "think" it has the same legendary front end.
Crysler imperial. Check and see what te rules are because this bad boy is put pawed in several states! No joke! In Idaho it's been deemed indistuctable due to the fact it has a very large cross brace in front of the radiator. I know a guy who still has an imperial that's Been in over 20 derbys and won more than 15 of them!!! They make for a mean ride.
Lincon continental/town car. The best guy in Idaho right now is driving one of these. Everyone up there hates him! (last year I took him out
) but his car works extremely well, it has a similar brace in the front as the imperial but it hasn't been as widely used so no one, as far as I know, have outlawed it.
Another car I'm considering building that I havnt ever seen is a mercedes 300d diesel, I just don't see how you could ever stop one?
Also check and see what the rules are on welding, cutting and adding metal. I think in tooele they have a strict "no weld" rule but in Idaho were I usually go you can cut and move metal around but you can't add any metal, however they aren't super strict up there, a lot of guys put metal mesh in front othe radiator an things like that. Everywhere will let you add metal as long as it's for safety, like a roll cage.
