When the Southwest Washington Fair kicks off this week, one longstanding tradition will be noticeably absent.
After more than four decades, the Lewis County Demolition Derby Association announced in early July it would no longer organize the fair’s annual demolition derby. The decision, promoter Lee Stiltner said, comes after organizers struggled to find drivers.
“There’s just not enough interest in it anymore,” Stiltner said. “It’s just not feasible.”
In recent years, organizers have scaled down and paired back the event. At its peak, the demolition derby would feature around 40 drivers, though only a dozen or so drivers have participated in recent years.
Stiltner said, in 2022, organizers also nixed a Tuesday night rally that was long a staple of the fair, though it continued to organize a Sunday afternoon derby. However, even with only one event instead of two, it became difficult to manage.
“Each year, it's been a little bit less and a little bit less,” Stiltner said.
Stiltner, who has helped organize the derby since 1982, said that finances also became challenging. With declining participation, the association struggled to bring in enough money to pay for prizes and associated expenses.
“It’s just one of those things where we’re not in it to make money, but we can’t lose money either,” he said.
The event has also faced other challenges in recent years.
At last year’s derby, the “Jump Your Junk” event was cut short after a Napavine man — the first and only contestant — drove an older model Ford Ranger off a dirt ramp before a hard landing. The roughly 1,000 audience members in the grandstands watched as the man was treated at the scene by paramedics before being driven to the hospital for treatment.
The man was treated for a broken vertebra, according to a GoFundMe page his family organized to help cover medical costs.
Stiltner said that while he talked to other people interested in potentially organizing the derby, it never materialized.
“We would like to thank all of the drivers for showing up to put on a show. The volunteers for the countless hours put into every event. And to the fans. The checkered flag goes to you as your continued support has made this wild adventure all worth it,” a Facebook post announcing the decision reads. “While this chapter is closed, we have many great memories to look back on and we owe it to all of you.”
