Demolition derby at the Central States Fair: It's mainly about having fun

These mud-covered, grease-stained drivers may not look like your typical athletes, but like any serious competitor they have spent years honing their craft.

For more than 21 years Travis Gramkow of Custer has been training, studying, strategizing, experimenting and sweating over his cars

Saturday night's demolition derby at the Central States Fair was his last.

After 21 years and more than 200 derbies, he said he was hanging up his helmet for good. Heart and health problems forced Gramkow to begrudgingly give up this sport he loves so dearly.

"I'm calling it quits," Gramkow said Saturday just hours before the derby was set to begin.

Over the years, Gramkow had figured out a few things about demolition derbies. He said his favorite cars to use have always been Chryslers from the 1970s or 80s.

"That's back when they still had cars made of steel," Gramkow said. "The one in today weighs 6,300 pounds."

The idea is to crash into other competitors, disabling their vehicles and being the last car rolling. To get things started, a stake is placed in the center of the arena and the first driver to hit it wins beer.

"The biggest thing is it's lots of fun," Gramkow said. "It's not just smash and crash. It's also an endurance thing."

He said he puts hundreds of hours into working on the cars to prepare for demolition derbies.

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Demolition derby at the Central States Fair: It's mainly about having fun