History

Death wish? Demolition derby drivers say they do it just for fun

Although there may be some glory involved, the consensus among Brown County Fair demolition derby drivers is that they risk life and limb for fun.

After all, the odds of becoming a hero are rather small with 42 cars involved in this year's exhibition. There are three heat winners, a championship and consolation winner.

LINUS "BUTCH" TAUER, 30, has been in the Brown County Fair derby for nine years and thinks of a demolition as a fun thing to do.

"Fords seem to be about the best cars to use,"says Tauer who has won the derby twice.

Wednesday night Tauer used a '64 Ford and plans on driving a '64 Olds for the fair's second derby Saturday night.

PAUL SCHANUS, 26, of New Ulm,"drives for fun and excitement," with a '64 mercury that cost him just $15.

"It's fun building the car and then seeing how it does," Schanus said.

Schanus' wife, Mary Ellen, won the Brown County Fair powder puff race several years ago while Paul has managed two heat wins to highlight eight years of crashing.

MARTY SCHIESL, 36, of New Ulm has enjoyed good success in four previous years of demolition derby driving, gaining the championship round every time driving Fords.

Schiesl took fifth in the championship during the Brown County Fair grandstand dedicated this June."I would have done better but I got hung up on a bumper," he said

A boilerman at the New Ulm power plant, Schiesl prefers automatic transmissions in his cars and turns up the idle quite high before competing to lessen the chance of the car's stalling.

Schiesl paid $25 for his '64 Ford on which he painted red and white stripes plus white stars on a blue back-ground and appropriately selected the number 76 for his entry.

Last year Schiesl finished second in his heat and took fourth in the championship round.

"IT'S A lot of mechanical work," Schiesl noted."You try and figure out everything that could go wrong and eliminate it, cross your fingers and say a prayer."

Wednesday night Schiesl elected to keep the fan on his motor because it was so hot out. Usually Schiesl removes the fan along with all chrome, glass and lights as all drivers must do.

Other requirements are moving the battery and gas tank inside the car and chaining down the doors, hood, trunk and engine.

Schiesl moved up a notch Wednesday night capturing third in the championship heat. Tauer wasn't quite as lucky taking fifth in the championship round although finishing first in his heat.

MIKE RIES of Lafayette banged his way to the championship trophy and $45 in prize money. Ron Lambrecht was second and Don Cordes fourth.

In the consolation heat, top four placers were Gerald Turbes, Larry Waibel, Mike Friederich and Eugene Hillesheim.

Preliminary heat champs were Ries and Tauer in a tie, Lambrecht and Cordes.

Lori Walter took the powder puff trophy for women drivers.

Brown County Journal

Aug. 19, 1976