Jodi Schoenfeld of IDS, a Woodsman Co., was the big winner in the third annual Builders Care Demolition Derby Saturday, Feb. 12 at Jax Raceways.
Forty-four cars were entered in the Northeast Florida Builders Association Builders Care fund-raiser, and more than 4,000 race fans filled the bleachers to cheer on their favorites during four heats and the final smash off.
“These guys get pretty rough out here,” Schoenfeld said. “I always attend the event and have always wanted to drive, but never imagined that I would actually win. It’s a lot of fun and a great cause. We are always happy to contribute to Bill Wilson and the Builders Care organization.”
Schoenfeld took home three trophies, winning the first heat, the overall and the smash-off titles.
Schoenfeld’s father, Wayne Sigley, a former racer, was part of her pit crew along with husband Mike and sons Dylan and Cole, fellow employees at IDS/Woodsman and Ace Wrecking.
Schoenfeld said her strategy, based on advice from veteran drivers, was not to hit too hard.
“They told me I wouldn’t last the heat if I tried to hit too hard,” Schoenfeld said. “Besides, it is a charity event and I didn’t want to hurt anyone. And, I didn’t want to get hurt either.”
Intrigue flourished as Schoenfeld, driving car 360 for Woodsman/IDS, won the first heat. TECO Partners, who earlier in the day won points by providing lunch for drivers and pit crew, took second place in the first heat, pushing American Electrical’s “Sparky Robert” Norman to third.
Each year, the City Building Inspector car is a prime target for crunching. But this year, car 630-CITY took first place in Heat No. 2, surviving close encounters with second- and third-place winners Richard “Pig Pen” Riddle, driving for KB Home, and Steve Whitner in the Lumber Unlimited car.
Guy Shapell won Heat No.3 driving for Shapells, Inc., beating John Dukes in the B&G Plumbing car and Kevin Brown of Fletcher High School driving the Purple People Eater into second and third places for the heat.
With an engine that didn’t want to give up and a body taking the shape of an accordion, William “The Land Man” Buckley in the KB Home car kept Heat No. 4 hot, finally conceding first place to Brad Negaard in car 13 for GBN Construction. Third place was taken by Eddie Markes of Ryland Homes.
In qualifying for the final Smash Off round, 29 drivers met the requirement of being able to start their cars one more time and Schoenfeld won in her pink and purple Woodsman/IDS car. Brown was a close contender in second place with the GBN Construction car 13 driven by Negaard chewing its way to third.
“We want everyone to know how much we appreciate their support - the fans, the drivers, the sponsors, everyone who entered a car and the companies and individuals who provided door prizes,” said Builders Care Executive Director Bill Wilson. “The Derby is a perfect night of family fun, from winning trophies to fabulous door prizes, from coaxing the last bit of life out of a bunch of cars to the promise of sharing life together. The Demolition Derby is a crowd pleaser, a night of good old-fashioned fun and the profits help eliminate substandard housing in the Jacksonville area.”