Haines Demolition Derby to proceed despite nearby wildfires
By Joe Hathaway on Thursday, August 1st, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
HAINES — The annual celebration of auto annihilation is back once again in Baker County.
The Haines Demolition Derby is set to take place on Saturday, August 3, at the Haines Stampede Rodeo Grounds. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m., with the show starting at 6:00 p.m. Despite the nearby wildfires, the event will proceed as planned, providing a much-needed boost for the local community.
“It was on the table to possibly cancel, but it didn’t really even come close, “said Haines Stampede Director Ken Bains.
The demolition derby, which has a rich history in the area, initially began as a fundraiser for the Thunder Mountain Raceway. After the raceway disbanded, the Haines Stampede Rodeo Association took over, and the event has been a significant fundraiser for the rodeo grounds for many years. This year marks the second year that Bains has been in charge of the event.
“The demolition derby is really what allows us to build on the rodeo grounds,” Bains explained. “We make enough money from the gate on this that most of the improvements we do come from the demolition derby. It’s just a great fundraiser.”
In addition to raising funds, the demolition derby is also about community engagement and entertainment. Bains shared his enthusiasm for the event, recalling his own experiences behind the wheel. “I did two years of it. For an adrenaline junkie, it’s great, it’s awesome.”
In recent years, the event has shifted focus to prioritize fun and community involvement over competition. “Up to two years ago, we were getting more serious cars, called the weld class cars. It just wasn’t fun anymore,” Bains said. “Last year, we went back to our roots with chain and bang cars only. Last year was fun again.”
Bains also says the support from the local community has been phenomenal.
“Our community is amazing. People donate money, and any farmer or rancher, if I need a tractor or a truck, you name it, they’ll say, ‘Come use it.,’ ” says Bains. “This is our chance to give the community back some entertainment because it is entertaining.”
