Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair holds spring demolition derby

by Rachel Hunter

The car-smashing, metal-crushing action returned to the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fairgrounds in Gouverneur on Sunday, May 1 as the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association hosted its Annual Spring Demolition Derby.

There were 47 demo derby cars registered with enthusiasts from all over the North Country participating in the much-anticipated event.

The trophies were donated by a local business, Rookey’s Cores and More of Lisbon, with cash prizes by the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association. Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Manager Don Peck told the Gouverneur Tribune Press this week that the first-place trophy went to Gouverneur’s own Cody Durham, and the second-place trophy went to Alexander Schell. Other heat winners will be announced as the information is provided to the Gouverneur Tribune Press.

Much gratitude was extended to Gouverneur business, Hall’s Excavating LLC for getting the track ready, as well as to all the volunteers who made the event possible. A special word of gratitude was extended to the Gouverneur Fire Department, the Gouverneur Rescue Squad, and the Gouverneur Police Department for ensuring the safety of all those participating and in attendance.

The Gouverneur Rescue Squad received a generous donation of $1,108 at the 2022 Spring Demolition Derby, the funds raised through a car raffle. The raffle car was donated by Trapp’s Garage in Gouverneur, and was a Chevy HHR. The vinyl work was done by Jeff Trapp, with several local business sponsorships supporting the endeavor. $1 tickets were sold for local residents to have a chance at driving the vehicle in Heat No. 5 of the spring demolition derby. Every dollar raised through the raffle car was donated to the Gouverneur Rescue Squad.

“We’d like to thank Trapp's Garage for their donation of the derby car and their hard work coordinating this,” Gouverneur Rescue Squad Director Mark Deavers said. “We would also like to show our appreciation to the Gouverneur community for their continued support of our agency and mission.”

Trapp’s Garage in Gouverneur also plans continue their support of the Gouverneur Fire Department through a raffle car fundraiser at the 2022 Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Demolition Derby to be held on Sunday, August 7 at the Gouverneur Fairgrounds. For more information about the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair, visit gouverneurfair.net.