by Liz Daube
Staff Writer
On an average day, John Thrush calls himself a “defensive driver.” He signals when he changes lanes. He stops at yellow lights. He makes smooth, safe, slow turns.
But when Thrush got behind the wheel at this year’s Builders Care Demolition Derby, he took on a totally different persona.
“It’s just really weird: running into a car intentionally,” said Thrush. “It’s funny to be driving around after it (the derby) and thinking, ‘I could take that car.’ ”
At the end of the 45-car demolition derby, Thrush’s 1988 Lincoln Town Car was the last car running. He said there’s no real strategy for winning a contest based on smashing into other cars. Luck may be the biggest factor, but his secret is go with the chaos.
“Try to keep moving so you don’t get hit,” said Thrush, adding that drivers try to back into other cars as much as possible. That way, the front end of the vehicle — and the all-important engine — stay protected, while other cars get beaten up. “You’re reacting more than you are thinking.”
The Builders Care derby is an annual event that raises money to help the nonprofit organization provide construction for low-income, elderly and disabled people. Thrush has been participating in the derby for four years. He started when he was working for the City as assistant supervisor of building inspections. The other derby drivers loved the opportunity to hit an inspector, he said.
“Contractors always like to get at inspectors anyway they can,” said Thrush. ”After the first year, they told us more people were participating when there was a City vehicle as a target. It’s nice to know that people want to go out and run over us just for fun.”
The car Thrush drove this year wasn’t officially sponsored by the City, but it was adorned with the word “CITY” on the body and Thrush’s name on a street sign.
After 21 years of City employment, Thrush recently decided to retire. Today, he works as a senior building inspector for Atlantic Geotechnical and Environmental Services. But he plans to keep participating in the derby: he said he finds the smashing and crashing fun, not scary.
“Hitting the cars is the fun part,” said Thrush. “I’m one of those different people who like to try anything exciting.”
He added that safety’s never been a big concern for him. He’s never been injured, and neck strain is the worst injury he’s seen. Plus, the cars are stripped of carpet and extra seating to prevent fire hazards, he said. In addition, he keeps a fire extinguisher next to him in the front seat.
Thrush said that in a previous derby, another car started leaking fuel and flames ignited — but the results weren’t as dangerous as one might expect.
“A car’s not going to blow up unless you put dynamite in it or something,” said Thrush, adding that movies tend to make people think cars will explode upon impact.
The derby gets pretty noisy, though: Thrush said cars hit each other at roughly 15 miles per hour, making a “metallic pop.” In the end, his car could run, but it wasn’t exactly road-worthy. He said a mechanic salvages the car parts that aren’t damaged. The leftover parts are in pretty decent condition, Thrush added: “One year, he (the mechanic) put one of the motors in his mom’s car.”