By Elizabeth Wilkerson -- Daily Staff Writer

STRASBURG — For many in the stands at the Shenandoah County Fair Monday night, the Nationwide Demolition Derby was a family affair.

"My husband's in it," said Summer Andes, 27, before the start of Monday's derby, which was open only to Shenandoah County entries. Her husband, John, has been competing in demolition derbies for four years, she said.

"He wasn't doing it when I met him," Andes said. "I wanted him to do it. I pushed him into it."

Tammy Mauck, Andes' mother, said she'd brought her daughter to the derby every year since she was three.

"This is what we come for every year," Mauck said. "I like the noise and the mud. We know a lot of people in it."

Andes would love to climb behind the wheel of one of the derby cars, but "they won't let me in," she said, smiling. There are minor injuries every year, she said, but usually no competitors are seriously hurt.

Andes said she has attended a lot of demolition derbies in the area, but that the competition at the county fair is the best.

"I don't know if it's home, or what it is," she said. "It's the hardest hitting one. It's the most competitive, I guess."

Jessica Jett, John Andes' cousin, said the adrenaline rush is what keeps the drivers coming back.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," she said. "Everybody tells me they'll fix [a car] up, but no one has. I did have one car, but I donated it to somebody."

Robert Haslacker, of Woodstock, said he and his wife, Tammy, came to the derby because three of her cousins were in it. Monday night's derby was Mrs. Haslacker's first, but Haslacker said he'd sneaked into the event often as a child.

"It was always a fun thing to watch them crash," he said. He said he's not interested in joining in the action, though "they keep saying once I watch it this year, I'll want to."

Mrs. Haslacker said she wanted to come and see what the event was like.

"I hope it's as good as everybody says," she said.

"It will be," Haslacker said.

The competitors' engines roared to life at about 8 p.m., and cars began to rumble into the concrete-ringed battleground. The enthusiastic crowd counted down to the start of the first heat, and soon the air was filled with a mixture of dust, exhaust and excitement.

Several audience members, including Mrs. Haslacker, moved quickly up the bleachers to avoid the rocks and dirt being thrown by spinning tires. At the end of the first heat, Mrs. Haslacker smiled.

"It was awesome," she said. "It's an adrenaline rush. ... How they stand that beating and banging I'll never know."

After the second heat, Shirley Patton, of Woodstock, said her grandson, Jonathan Patton, had made it through the heat and into the final round. She said her son, John Patton, would compete in the third heat, and that her other grandson, Josh Patton, would compete in the fourth heat.

Her two grandsons were hoping to make it to the final heat with their father, she said.

"They want to pick on daddy," she said, laughing. They just do it for the fun, she said. "Of course, they like to win, too."

Fair manager March McCann said the winner of Monday's derby would be eligible to participate in the State Fair of Virginia's Demolition Derby Championship on Oct. 5. Tuesday's derby will be open to all entrants.

* Contact Elizabeth Wilkerson at ewilkerson@nvdaily.com