There might be an adage in demolition derby circles that says the family that destroys fenders and caves in car doors together stays together.
If there is, Mike Patton, a three-time derby champion at the Johnson County 4-H Fair, is totally on board.
His family goes five strong at the fair this week in the various derby competitions. Daughters Brooklynn and Mackenzie, both 14, will compete, as will Patton’s sons, 8-year-old Braden and 6-year-old Reese.
Then there is Patton himself. The 36-year-old Franklin resident will be behind the wheel of a 1993 Lincoln Town Car that’s long past its prime as a family vehicle but is the ideal derby ride due to its sturdy frame and a compactness made possible from a previous event.
Patton, who takes part in full-size stock events, started competing in the county derby at 13 and can’t seem to let go.
“I just have a love for the sport. It’s like an addiction. You can’t get enough of it,” Patton said. “I’m a really competitive person, so the competitiveness of it draws me in. Being able to hang out with friends and family and do something together, it’s a lot of fun.”
Patton doesn’t know the exact number of times he’s finished second in the local derby, but said it could be as many as 10.
Whatever he’s doing works, plain and simple.
“It’s evolving and finding different things to find out what works with the cars,” Patton said. “They set out a set of rules for a show, and I try to read those and find the gray areas where I can do something to my car that’s going to make it a little bit stronger than the other guys.”
Patton occasionally passes certain morsels of information onto his kids. As they grow older and more experienced in derbying, he’ll share more.
Brooklynn will drive a 1993 Honda Accord in the youth Gut-N-Go; Mackenzie takes part in the same competition, only she’ll be driving a 1998 Toyota Avalon. Braden and Reese are part of the power wheels event for smaller children.
“It’s just really fun, and you just get to hang out with people,” said Brooklynn, who is competing in the Honda Accord for the first time. Her previous derby experiences were either in a Chrysler PT Cruiser or Buick Skylark.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking because you don’t really know how it’s going to be and what will happen, because all cars are different.”
Vince Olivas, founder and owner of Toast Promotions, is in his first year working with the various demolition derbies at the Johnson County 4-H Fair. He said developing young derby drivers is one way to ensure the event remains a draw in the future.
“If we don’t get the youth into it now, a lot of the older drivers are getting out of it,” Olivas said. “This is a chance to them to see what it’s all about. They actually had the youth derby on a Thursday last year, but we’re moving it to Friday and Saturday so that more kids are able to do it.”
In all, there are 15 derby events spread across three nights at the fairgrounds. It’s a far cry from when Mike Patton was an early teen competing against men twice or three times his age — or more — and he’s glad to see his children benefit from it.
“I really like that they’ve added the youth class to derbies because that’s going to get people into it at a young age, and then you’ll be with it the rest of your life, really,” Patton said.
“I mean, I’ve tried to quit numerous times and I keep dragging myself back into it.”
