All the elements were there.
The chill in the air. The full moon. The growing crowd. The roar of engines. Thunderous sounds of metal crashing into metal. The smell of smoke.
A crowd of nearly 4,000 gathered to watch 39 teams battle to keep their cars moving in the second annual Builders Care Demolition Derby at Jax Raceway last month.
The crowd was not disappointed. Three heats and a final bout delivered all the crash, slam, spin, sparks flying excitement anyone could want.
And, when it was all over, winners took home their trophies, the crowd took home vivid memories and Builders Care, a charitable arm of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, took home
an estimated $50,000 for
charity.
“This event is so much fun you almost forget it also serves a very important and serious purpose,” said Ken Kuester, Builders Care board chairman and driver of the Lumber Unlimited car in the derby. “Our goal is to improve the quality of life for some of our neighbors who need help to bring their homes into a safe living condition. It’s something we in the building industry are well equipped to do. And, if we can have some fun like this along the way, it’s a situation where everyone wins.”
Sponsors of the events - those entering cars - were primarily Northeast Florida Builders Association members. Needless to say, the City Building Inspectors’ 630-City car, driven by John Thrush, was a primary target of the builders. John held his own, finishing third in the second heat, advancing to the finals and ending up with the No. 2 spot in the final smash off.
In Heat No. 1, the Shappels’ car, car No. 7 - dubbed “The Shark” - driven by Guy Shappel, won first place. Mitchell Montgomery Jr., driving the Montgomery Land Company’s car 111, came in second, and Builders First Source, car B1, driven by David Reifsnyder, was third place.
Heat No. 2 saw Tommy Keener driving car No. 99 for Rita Williams Merchandising Plus hold off all attacks to win first place. John Mullis in the Kendale Inc. car, No. 24, came in second, and City inspector John Thrush placed third.
Warming up the crowd in Heat No. 3, Brad Negaard in GBN Construction’s car 13 survived the onslaught to capture first place. Chad Genovar, driving KB Home’s car No. 2, came in second. John Schmitt, driving car No. 11 for last year’s winner American Electrical, placed third.
In the final smash off, all cars that would start reentered the track and battled it out to the end. KB Home won first place, the City Building Inspectors placed second and ICI Homes’ car No. 3 driven by Dan Middleton won the third spot.
Throughout the evening, lucky ticket holders were also winners. They were called to pick up prizes that included tools, televisions, dinners, gift baskets, CD players, telephones and a host of other gifts including a houseboat trip.
“We want to thank all our gift donors,” said Robin Wilson of Builders Care. “So many companies and individuals provided some very nice gifts for the drawings and door prizes, and it certainly added to the enjoyment and success of the event.”
Between the first and second heats, Amy Sterling and Linda Adrian of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) presented a check for $5,500 to Builders Care Executive Director Bill Wilson. CREW members adopted Builders Care as their charity of interest and held a fundraiser dinner to make the donation.
“Builders Care and its mission have touched many lives,” Wilson said. “We have been able to provide assistance to nearly 400 homeowners who either needed emergency repairs or help they just couldn’t find anywhere else.”
The Jacksonville City Council recently presented Builders Care with a resolution in recognition of its “outstanding work in helping provide affordable housing for Jacksonville’s citizens.”
Citing an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 substandard housing units in the city - many inhabited by the elderly and disabled, the resolution commended Builders Care for its ability to marshal more than 17,000 hours of volunteer labor and nearly $1.5 million in private funds through the efforts of NEFBA and in partnership with such agencies as Meals on Wheels, City of Jacksonville Code Enforcement Division, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, the Florida Department of Children and Families, Independent Living, City Council members and local pastors to identify residents truly in need and to provide rapid response to dealing with essential life and health safety issues.
The Northeast Florida Builders Association provides education, research, legislative representation, media relations, promotions and programs for its 1,500-plus builder and associate members.