In the summer of 1979, motor sports coordinator Chuck Bonomo approached the Rock Springs Firefighters with the idea of starting a demolition derby. In a town which already enjoyed sprint car racing and sand drags, the demolition derby seemed like a natural fit for a small town in southwestern Wyoming in the midst of an oil boom.

     The local firefighters union at the time lacked any sort of significant fund-raising event. The union realized this could be an opportunity to raise money, however, in order to succeed, the event would need to attract twenty or thirty cars for the first derby. Logistics of holding such an event were also a major task. Borrowing rules and regulations from another derby helped launch the realization of the first derby. With advertising and the securing of a place to host the venue, the union was on its way to hosting the first annual derby.

     As the grandstands filled to capacity on that hot August night, nobody could have predicted the incredible turnout of seventy cars, ready to do battle. It was an absolute success! Seventy cars, however, makes for a long night of demolition when you have regular heats, consolation heats, main event heat, and then a couple of powder-puff heats, so when the demolition derby was held in August of 1980, it went to a two night event, as it remains to this day.

     The second annual demolition derby had one-hundred cars compete for prize monies and trophies, and set the future format for the derby. Friday night action consists of eight to ten regular heats. On Saturday evening, consolation heats, a grudge match (county wide fire and law enforcement personnel), the main event heat and then powder-puff all take place. Prize money is generated through driver entry fees and local sponsors.

     Fast forward to 2005, the Rock Springs Firefighters Demolition Derby is still going strong, and growing! Several years ago a compact car heat was added, and last year we started a ½ ton truck class as well. The event continues to sell-out on both nights every year. This has enabled the firefighters union to continue to support over fifty different organizations, including scholarships and a local ‘Burn-Fund’, which provides money to locals who have been left homeless because of fire.

     The Rock Springs Firefighters are a non-profit organization, whose mission is to make Rock Springs, Wyoming a safer place to live and play. On a final note, we’d like to mention that safety is taken very seriously at our derby, and in twenty-six years there has never been a serious injury in the arena!