Trucks and cars line the streets surrounding the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. Rock-and-roll blares from speakers, its muffled beat reaching neighbourhoods in the distance. An announcer enthusiastically chronicles the action for the crowds who are cheering in the stands. Dust billows from the arena as, time and time again, metal crunches metal, wheels spin in the dirt, steam hisses and sprays from mangled engines.

These are the sights and sounds of the Salmon Arm Demolition Derby which, for the past 26 years, has entertained thousands of people from Salmon Arm and throughout the Shuswap.

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This year, the arena will be silent, the streets empty. The 27th Annual Salmon Arm Demolition Derby has been cancelled, an extremely tough decision for the man responsible for creating the event more than a quarter century ago.

Wes Henry explains that this year the entries just weren害羞草研究所檛 coming in.

Although the registration deadline was July 31, as of July 27, only four trucks and five cars had entered. Entries have been dwindling every year, he says, but this year they were way too low. Even though a few more were going to enter, there weren害羞草研究所檛 going to be enough. They need at least 15 cars and 10 trucks to make a go of it.

Last year there were 18 cars, while, back in the day 害羞草研究所渨e used to get 45, 46 cars for the derby.害羞草研究所�

Henry explains that a large outlay of money is needed before the derby starts, for insurance, grounds rental, security and more.

害羞草研究所淭he last thing I want to do on the day of the derby is say it害羞草研究所檚 cancelled.害羞草研究所�

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Henry, a dedicated community volunteer, started the derby in order to give the Salmon Arm Rescue Unit a dependable source of income.

The rescue unit responds to accidents, bringing the Jaws of Life. It害羞草研究所檚 strictly volunteers, with some funding from the Provincial Emergency Program. Before the demo derby, it was relying on fundraisers like bake sales and raffle tickets, Henry says.

Despite this year害羞草研究所檚 cancellation of the derby, he害羞草研究所檚 planning to try again next year.

害羞草研究所淲e are going to have to reevaluate and do something a little different, make it happen again next year. There is still one in Armstrong and our hope is we害羞草研究所檒l be back next year, without a problem.害羞草研究所�

He says the loss of funding for this year will be a big blow to the rescue unit and, if the derby doesn害羞草研究所檛 fly next year, a new source of income will have to be found.

Henry isn害羞草研究所檛 sure why the number of people entering is dropping, but he says it害羞草研究所檚 a trend throughout the province with lots of other derbies shutting down.

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One factor could be that cars are getting a little more expensive to buy and work on, he says.

And, 害羞草研究所渢he older generation is starting to retire and the younger generation isn害羞草研究所檛 stepping up to build the cars. If you look at any organization out there anymore害羞草研究所� Curling has gone down, baseball has gone down, it害羞草研究所檚 just a thing of the times, I think, unfortunately. The younger generation is busy doing what they need to do.害羞草研究所�

The decision to cancel the derby has left Henry feeling terrible.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been doing it for 26 years. That害羞草研究所檚 a long time to be doing something and all of a sudden you can害羞草研究所檛 do it. I feel sad for the fans; we get a lot of fans who come out and watch the derby. It害羞草研究所檚 too bad for them we can害羞草研究所檛 do it.害羞草研究所�

The question, 害羞草研究所榳hat will you be doing this year on Aug. 26?害羞草研究所� makes Henry laugh.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know. I guess I害羞草研究所檒l go to the beach.害羞草研究所�

marthawickett@saobserver.net
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