More women getting into demolition derby
Plum Crazy’s tires gripped whatever traction they could find in the soft mud of Tuesday’s demolition derby at the Fayette County Fair. Despite some hard hits, the purple station wagon still wove around the arena, aiming for the front of its competitors. Douglas Bryner of Scottdale had busted his back tire, and his rear bumper skimmed across the clumps of mud. He took a moment to look up into the stands at his family and friends in purple shirts and returned the thumbs-up sign that his wife, Danah, offered him. A few moments later, his number 113X advanced onto Tuesday night’s feature.
But last Thursday, it was Bryner’s turn to sit in the stands with the children, family and friends. He was there to cheer his wife to victory in the women-only heat.
While Danah Bryner has fared well in a sport many might consider male-dominated, more women are competing in demolition derby.
And, although the competition for women has been labeled with the soft-sounding tag of “Powder Puff,” many fans contend that the women drivers are more aggressive than the men.
“A lot of women want to try,” said Danah Bryner. “Renee Myers got the ‘Hard Hitting’ trophy Thursday night, and she runs with the men.”
While sitting in the driver’s seat, Danah Bryner thrives on her adrenaline. Although she’s friends with the women in the Powder Puff heat, her first hit gives her the motivation she needs to start aiming for their front fenders, she said.
“After that first hit, I’m out to put that person against the wall and shove them,” she said.
Her win last week earned Bryner a spot in Croushore’s Grand Finale in September. The finale is rated in the top 10 events for demolition derbies, according to Bob Croushore organizer of Croushore’s Championship Demolition Derby.
Bryner and her husband entered their first demolition derby about three years ago when her brother-in-law told them to try it. Since then, their three children also have taken an interest in the competition, and they help their mother paint the vehicles.
Preparing the cars and wearing their purple shirts in the stands has brought this family together. Danah Bryner said their involvement in demolition derbies has offered a unique way for her family to spend time together and teach her children the importance of discipline.
“Nowadays, most of the kids are running the streets,” she said. “I know where mine are.”
Her oldest daughter will be eligible to drive in next year’s derby and eagerly awaits the moment when she can join her parents in the arena, according to her mother.
“It’s going to be interesting,” said Danah Bryner. “A driver’s permit is nothing compared to what goes on in that arena.”
More and more female drivers have emerged on the demolition derby scene over the past few years. While many of them simply run in the Powder Puff heat, some have no problem going bumper to bumper with the men.
“We’ve had several lady drivers over the years win men events,” said Croushore. “We’ve had two win the Grand Finale.”
Prior to Croushore’s Powder Puff heat, women typically would not run in demolition derbies. His first heat designed specifically for female drivers drew five competitors into the arena.
In an effort to make the heat last longer, he had the drivers race in a circle both forward and backward. Michelle Guy of Uniontown won both races and the derby that evening in her pink car.
Although Guy could not enter this year’s Powder Puff heat at the fair because her car was manufactured in the 1970s rather than the 1980s or later, she intends to earn a spot for the Grand Finale during one of the other demolition derbies.
Guy’s interest in demolition derbies peaked eight years ago when her husband, Frankie Guy, built her a car. Building derby cars and running in derbies has been in her husband’s blood from a very young age, according to Michelle Guy.
“Frankie’s been around it ever since he was small,” she said. “His dad used to build derby cars.”
The two have taken a serious role in preparing cars for demolition derbies. Starting in October, Frankie Guy traveled south to find what he hoped would become winning cars.
“Some guys will get a car out of the junkyard and tune up the motor,” said Michelle Guy. “They’re out to smash cars. My husband builds the best cars that he can possibly build.”
Frankie Guy spends 200 to 300 hours working on each car, sometimes working after dinner until midnight six days a week, his wife said. He puts on four new tires and changes all the fluids and batteries. However, the couple uses the same motor and transmission from one year to the next.
Michelle Guy paints their cars black with yellow lettering. They use Frankie’s old football number from his high school and college years, 77 and 77+ for her. Additionally, they paint the names of some of the companies who have helped them work on the cars or find parts they needed, as a way to thank them for their support.
Although the couple had a good season last year and made approximately $8,000, Michelle Guy said that they are not in it for the money. In fact, the money they win doesn’t equal the money they have put into their cars.
“It’s by no means a sport that you’re making money,” said Michelle Guy. “It’s a hobby that takes time and money.”
All of their dedication and effort pays off with each trophy they collect for their trophy room. The room contains 78 trophies, including a 6-foot-tall one Michelle Guy earned by becoming the second woman to win Croushore’s Grand Finale last year.
She credits this milestone win in her demolition derby career to her husband for not only building her the winning car but for teaching her to drive smart. Before she runs, he gives her pointers about the weak spots on her competition’s cars or simply to be more patient.
While running against some of the male drivers, Michelle Guy said, she has taken a few hard hits because she drove a car built by her husband, who has a reputation for building cars that win. Although she feels that the men may aim for her car a little more, she enjoys hitting theirs, as well, believing they pose a greater challenge.
“They don’t take it easier on you if you’re a woman,” she said. “They probably try harder to knock you out just so you don’t beat them.”