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SPECIAL EVENT PRESS RELEASE
PLACERVILLE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION/PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2007
MEDIA CONTACTS:
PLACERVILLE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, RON CANNON (530) 642-5210 Ext. 314
PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY, BILL SULLIVAN (916) 969-7484
Placerville Police Officers present the 34th Annual Hangtown Destruction Derby this Sunday at Placerville Speedway
Five locals among the 25 entries pre-registered; fallen CHP officer to be remembered in event
By Bill Sullivan
This Sunday afternoon smashing, crashing and total destruction will be the name of the game at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds as the Placerville Police Officers Association presents the 34th annual Hangtown Destruction Derby at Placerville Speedway. This annual event that benefits local charities will take place in conjunction with "Mountain Democrat Kids Night" at Placerville Speedway on the eve of the event, Saturday August 18.
Over three decades strong, the annual Hangtown Destruction Derby is presented by the Placerville Police Officers Association and features men and women of law enforcement in a contest of mechanical survival on a mud filled infield of the speedway.
In the early years, the Hangtown Destruction Derby was open to only those employed by public service agencies. However, this will mark the fourth year that entries are open to the public, who merely must be endorsed by a police or fire agency. In addition to the men and women of the public safety industry, many area entrants are expected, representing various body shops and towing services, industries that have always been involved with the derby.
The entry fee for the even is just $50 and the winner of the super main will be awarded a healthy $1000. Second place earns $500 and third place wins $300. Heat races will pay $150 to the winner, $100 to second place and $50 to third. In addition to the cash winnings top finishers are awarded trophies for their success. Entrants in this annual event routinely acquire the vehicle themselves and then use area sponsorships to construct it into a full blown derby car.
For the first time in the history of the Hangtown Destruction Derby a husband and wife team will be in competition Sunday afternoon. Longtime derby driver Ron Cannon, an officer with the Placerville Police Department who coordinates the event annually will face his "better half" in the muddy arena that will be home of the mechanical mayhem. Tami Cannon volunteers and assists with special events with the Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Department. The mother of two has always been a strong supporter of the Hangtown Destruction Derby as well as her husband's efforts to compete. This year she's filling many roles from assisting with the promotion of the event, singing the national anthem and now, taking the wheel of a derby car.
"Believe it or not this was actually my idea to do this," said Cannon. "Out of the blue I just said maybe I would try it and Ron was all for it. So here we go, it should be fun and will definitely be interesting. We're both looking forward to it."
Cannon is not the only, nor the first female driver to compete in the annual destruction derby. In fact, lady drivers have been somewhat common in recent years. She will be joined locally by Joanna Hebert of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department Records Division. This will mark Hebert's second derby entry. Popular derby contestant Melissa Meekma of the El Dorado County Sheriffs Department was originally slated as a return entry this season. Meekma was one of the three officers injured in a shootout in Shingle Springs back in June and is still out on leave while she recovers.
Sunday's event has 25 pre-registered drivers. It's he highest number in over five years and additional entries are expected on Sunday. The number of local entries is up as well with six entries representing local agencies. Joining the three local entries mentioned above will be Geoff Bodle of Sierra Nevada Tire and Wheel, Nathan Foltz of Gold Country Bail Bonds and Rob Gronewold of the Diamond Springs-El Dorado County Fire Department. Additionally, the Placerville office of the California Highway Patrol has announced they will enter the event with a car in the memory of fallen officer Scott Russell. The driver of this entry has yet to be named and will be announced on Sunday.
"They haven't told anyone who's driving it, but they have confirmed they will enter the event in the memory of officer Russell," said Ron Cannon. "I think it's a pretty neat way to remember him nand we're glad they're coming. Its been a long time since all three law enforcement agencies in El Dorado County have been represented in one derby."
The many locals in Sunday's derby will be competing in several competitons throughout the afternoon. The festivities will start with driver introductions and a parade of contestants following by a best of show competition and a contest that awards the car that best resembles an actual patrol unit. A cash prize is awarded for both events but the winning drivers must dive face first into a mud pit to complete the affair, an event that is tradition and is loved by the huge crowd that flocks to the fairgrounds each August for the derby. After the opening events, heat races will take place followed by a semi main event and the super main where everyone will be gunning to dethrone Tony Naples, former Half Moon Bay Firefighter and defending Hangtown Destruction Derby Champion that has confirmed another entry.
During the last several years, Cannon has been working with race track promoters John Padjen Motorsports and many members of the community who sponsor the annual event to bring it back to life. The combined public relations efforts of Cannon, Padjen and the community have made the annual destruction derby more successful with impressive attendance and moderate car counts once again.
"Things look really good for this year," said Cannon. "It takes a lot of work to put this thing together and we really appreciate the help we get from race promoter John Padjen and his staff and the sponsors that make this all come together. Our car count looks really good as far as pre registration goes. We're looking forward to the weekend and being a part of kids night at the speedway the night before."
The evening prior to the event, the Placerville Police Officers Association will present their annual pre-event barbecue at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds and will participate in "Mountain Democrat Kids Night" at the speedway that same evening.
Kids Night brings hundreds of youngsters to Placerville Speedway annually to compete in bicycle races on the speedway at intermission. In an effort to promote family interest in the derby and contribute to the racing community, the Placerville Police Officers Association will be on hand Saturday night to present complimentary derby tickets to the first 100 children in the gate at the. On this particular night all children under 12 are admitted to the speedway free on kid's night and have the opportunity to visit victory lane themselves on their bicycles and win trophies at intermission.
The Annual Destruction will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Adult admission will be $10 and children will be $5 unless they receive a complimentary ticket the night before. For additional information on the upcoming weekend at Placerville Speedway visit www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com or www.hangtowncops.org.
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