Demolition Derby isn’t your typical sport that high school boys and girls think about participating in, but for Dakotah Halstead of Eagle Grove, he’s had an interest in it since long before then.
“I have always liked demolition derby…since I was a kid,” Alt explained with a big smile on his face. “There’s just something about running into a car without getting in trouble for it,” he added with a little chuckle.
It was no surprise to his family and friends when Halstead bought his first demolition car and started entering races. What was a surprise, however, for local families at least, was when area kids of all ages were invited to the Eagle Grove Memorial Library parking lot earlier this month, in conjunction with their Summer Reading program, where Halstead had his white car ready and waiting to be made fabulous at the hands of little artists. It was a blank canvas, a crash course in art one might say, for them to decorate as they and their parents/guardians/grandparents wanted. Some used the bright-colored markers to write their names. Others created a pattern of geometric shapes. Some drew “self-portrait” stick people. Some of the older artists left an inspirational message or two. Halstead loved them all. He also invited everyone who showed up to decorate his car to sign their name on the hood of the car so he could represent them while he is racing.
Halstead came up with the idea to let the kids decorate his demolition car not only so it would be, most likely, the most unique car on the track, but also to try and get the younger generation interested in demolition derby. Just to maybe entice them a little bit more, he even let them hop through the window and into the driver’s seat. There were some giant smiles on those kids’ faces.
Halstead also has very special plans for the back trunk of the demolition car. Children were not allowed to paint on that portion during the library event because he saved for local fire, EMT, and police to sign their names as a special recognition for all they do day-in and day-out to keep the community safe, just like being safe while driving demolition is important.
“Safety comes first,” Halstead said about participating in the sport.
He noted that it may “look” dangerous, but in reality he feels very safe thanks to the roll cage inside the vehicle, pool noodles or pillows on the sides, and rules like “no hitting the driver’s door.”
“I feel safer in my demolition car than I do a car on the road,” he admitted.
He might not be nervous…but his grandma admits she is, even with all the safety measures taken.
If you would like to check out Halstead’s car, or his demolition driving, you can find him and his #47K (his high school football number) car at the Humboldt County Fair on Saturday, July 24. He also plans on racing his demolition masterpiece at the Iowa State Fair in August.
Demolition racing consists of five or more drivers on a race track crashing into each other deliberately with the goal of getting the other drivers’ cars to stop running. The person with the last operational vehicle is the winner.
