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Derby Fever Is Catching

photo by Cookie Steponaitis Mike and his sons Shane and Dawson are caught up in DD fever and are preparing multiple cars for the Addison County Fair & Field Days Demolition Derby nights!

Tuesday July 28, 2015

By Cookie Steponaitis

It is apparent that summer is truly moving along when people in the Champlain Valley begin to exhibit signs of the annual, predictable and non-curable condition known as DD Fever. And for those not familiar with this condition, the subject begins to exhibit a passion for collecting seemingly wrecked vehicles in the four, six and eight cylinder size. Then they spend hours, grouped with others suffering from this condition with wrenches, torches, paint and tools to fix these metal shells into vehicles deemed derby ready. Neither heat, nor rain, nor working overtime will stop the advancement of this condition and DD Fever reaches its peak during August 4- 8th. While not everyone in Addison County gets DD Fever to the full extent, the rest of the county comes down with DD Watcher which is a lesser case but none the less addictive.
    And for those of you vising from out of town, DD Fever stands for Demolition Derby and DD Watcher for the thousand or so who will brave rain, mud and even heat to watch it happen. Driving into Mike’s Auto & Storage, located at 2877 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7) in New Haven, it is obvious that DD Fever is in full force. On one of the hottest days in summer with temperatures over 85 and a humidity rate not far behind, Mike and sons Shane and Dawson are pushing very torn and ripped automobiles into the work bay because they cannot run on their own. While the motto of the business is, ''If we can't fix it - it ain't broke!' it is obvious that these cars are indeed broke and will need help to meet their appointed destinies on the fields of Addison County Field Days.
    If you want proof that DD fever is contagious just ask Mike. He entered his first derby in 1988 and won his division during the 2000 decade. Son Shane won his division in 2010 and placed in the top four in other years. Younger brother Dawson is looking forward to his first ‘crash them up’ experience and is entering three cars in his first attempt and with words like torque, frame, and taking the glass out, the men are hard at work when this reporter happens by. Pieces of vehicle lay strewn around the floor and the object of the day is to rip more off before getting down to serious work.
    When asked to explain how all of this can be won, all three heads nodded and Mike expressed, “It all started with Willy La Fountain and his Cadillac El Dorado. Those things are built like a tank and are virtually unstoppable.” La Fountain is the stuff of legends in Field Days lore and history competing in an event where the winner is the last vehicle moving. He has dominated the events for years and his pedal to the metal and sometimes airborne climbs up and over other vehicles has amazed the crowds at Field Days. Enthusiasts made LaFountain a name that was spoken of by two generations at Mike’s Auto with respect.
    Now, no worries to the people who depend on Mike’s Auto Too, Auto body, U-Haul and Wrecker Services in New Haven and at 19 Elm St, Middlebury, VT. Demolition Derby Fever will not stop the quality service you have come to expect. Open Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Mike, Shane and Dawson are on the job and ready to help you. Look up their website at mikesautomidd.com or give them a call at (802) 453-5533 or (802) 453-5563. And for those of you who have not yet caught DD Fever, have no worries. On August 4th when the gates of Addison County Farm & Fields Days open, you will feel compelled to go to the arena, get some great fair food and watch the test of torque, frames, cylinders and strategy play out. It is almost Demolition Derby time and on the way out this reporter asked Mike if Voice readers could expect to see him in the Derby this year. Mike grinned for a minute, looked over at his boys and said, “You never know. If I find the right vehicle, you never know.”
    It is indeed soon to be Demolition Derby time and this is one fever you will not mind catching. See you at the heats!

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