Having a truly smashing time at fair

By Kipp Hanley

Published: August 14, 2008

No matter what his friends said, Saraj Uddin was geared up for the opening night of the Demolition Derby at the Prince William County Fair on Wednesday.

Armed with a point and shoot digital camera, the 24-year-old Alexandria man stood halfway down the fence line across the track from the grandstand filming spectacular crash after spectacular crash.

"I told a lot of people about it and they made fun of me for it," Uddin said. "… I am sure they are going to go for this after seeing these pictures."

Wednesday evening was a perfect night for snapshots. Cooler than normal temperatures, combined with $1 admis-sion, brought fans out in droves. The stands, which hold approximately 5,000 people, were packed.

Manassas resident David Simpson, who works across the street as a track official at the Old Dominion Speedway, doesn't ever miss this event and was there Wednesday watching from atop a red tow truck. Simpson, 25, guessed he'd been coming to this event since he was 7 or 8 years old, back when they had drag rac-ing.

"[I love] just the noise from the cars, the horsepower, the loud exhaust and the metal flying every-where," Simpson said.

The Hendersons from Dale City also made the trip. Sarah Henderson, 17, had come to the fair Monday and decided to bring her father, Kenny, and younger brother, Andrew, out on Wednesday.

Kenny said he came solely for 13-year-old Andrew, who he said is starting to get into cars. Kenny said he was amazed at how many people showed up so early.

At 7 p.m., nearly every parking space on the grounds was taken. By 8:30 p.m., cars were backed up from the fair entrance on Dumfries Road all the way to the Va. 234 bypass.

The large crowd and lively atmosphere was great to see, said Belvoir Salvage Yard owner Mark Peckhaus. 

Peckhaus, who entered 10 vehicles in the various derby competitions this year, said an event like Wednes-day's was a welcome change to the dire situations many of his customers are in when they come to him.

"People are angry at life, people are getting laid off and gas prices are on the rise," Peckhaus said. "I don't know of a better way to take out those frustrations than to hit that yellow car."

The annual event has various classifications, including 4-cylinder cars, 6-cylinder cars, 8-cylinder cars, vans and trucks. The event finals are tonight at 7.

One car from both the Prince William County Sheriff's Office and Prince William County Police Department will be part of the field tonight. Both departments are raising money for charity by having local companies sponsor their

vehicles.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-369-5738.