MONROE - After Eric Berget's 2000 Ford Crown Victoria car caught on fire at the Green County Fair's demolition derby, the South Wayne driver didn't panic.
Berget qualified for the finals after surviving heavy rain and the fire late in the second heat of the derby on Sunday, July 21.
"It was just a little oil spill," Berget said. "I was hoping the other guy would have got counted out, because he was sitting there for a while."
It marks the third derby that Berget has used the same Crown Victoria. He understands that he is pressing his luck with the lifespan of the car.
"(Three derbies) is great," he said. "It very seldom ever happens like that. Today will definitely be the last day for it."
Berget, who has competed in derbies for 18 years, said the competitions are a hobby. He enters about eight demo derbies each summer. His best finish this year is fourth place at the Stephenson County Fair in Freeport.
Vicki Schutte, of Freeport, who is a 1999 Monroe High School graduate, purchased a Chevy wagon online for $1,500 in anticipation of the demo derby at the Green County Fair. She has been driving in derbies since she graduated from Monroe.
"I graduated and went right into demo derbies," Schutte said. "It cures road rage. This is my hometown, so I like to do it."
Schutte's son, Seth Ballard started driving in derbies in Morrison, Ill. She usually enters three derbies each summer, but the Green County Fair event was her first this year. When Berget's car caught on fire, it proved to be a big break for Schutte.
"It was perfect timing because I ran out of gas after that," Schutte said.
She also had a banged up car that lost a tire, suffered a broken motor mount and blew the radiator. As one of the only woman drivers, Schutte hasn't received any hazing from other drivers, though "they don't like it when they lose to me," she added.
Justin Blum, 17, of Monroe, qualified for the finals in the first heat, but his car suffered some damages and he couldn't make the changes in time, so he bowed out of the finals. Blum looked to be in a good position throughout the first heat until he was ganged up on in a three-on-one collision.
Blum said his tie rod, part of the steering mechanism of the vehicle, was damaged and he didn't have enough time to get it ready for the finals.
"It's fun unless you are getting team roped," Blum said.
Berget qualified for the finals after surviving heavy rain and the fire late in the second heat of the derby on Sunday, July 21.
"It was just a little oil spill," Berget said. "I was hoping the other guy would have got counted out, because he was sitting there for a while."
It marks the third derby that Berget has used the same Crown Victoria. He understands that he is pressing his luck with the lifespan of the car.
"(Three derbies) is great," he said. "It very seldom ever happens like that. Today will definitely be the last day for it."
Berget, who has competed in derbies for 18 years, said the competitions are a hobby. He enters about eight demo derbies each summer. His best finish this year is fourth place at the Stephenson County Fair in Freeport.
Vicki Schutte, of Freeport, who is a 1999 Monroe High School graduate, purchased a Chevy wagon online for $1,500 in anticipation of the demo derby at the Green County Fair. She has been driving in derbies since she graduated from Monroe.
"I graduated and went right into demo derbies," Schutte said. "It cures road rage. This is my hometown, so I like to do it."
Schutte's son, Seth Ballard started driving in derbies in Morrison, Ill. She usually enters three derbies each summer, but the Green County Fair event was her first this year. When Berget's car caught on fire, it proved to be a big break for Schutte.
"It was perfect timing because I ran out of gas after that," Schutte said.
She also had a banged up car that lost a tire, suffered a broken motor mount and blew the radiator. As one of the only woman drivers, Schutte hasn't received any hazing from other drivers, though "they don't like it when they lose to me," she added.
Justin Blum, 17, of Monroe, qualified for the finals in the first heat, but his car suffered some damages and he couldn't make the changes in time, so he bowed out of the finals. Blum looked to be in a good position throughout the first heat until he was ganged up on in a three-on-one collision.
Blum said his tie rod, part of the steering mechanism of the vehicle, was damaged and he didn't have enough time to get it ready for the finals.
"It's fun unless you are getting team roped," Blum said.
