Backing up in your old beater and repeatedly hitting your father's vehicle is probably not advisable except for one occasion – the Fall Brawl Demolition Derby at the Estevan Motor Speedway.
Carson Dixon and Kevin Dixon were the last two cars left in the final feature after all the others had been eliminated or stuck in the mud banks, and Carson nudged his father Kevin's car – gently – a few times before claiming the fall brawl title.
“I've still got to go home to him,” Carson joked as he accepted the cheque for first place in the derby.
Going into the event, there was no set plan if they were the last two standing.
“You always talk about it but it never really happens,” laughed Kevin. "I just came out of retirement last year when Estevan had it for the first time. I had a fun time, so I thought I'd try it again.”
The strategy for Carson was simple: “not get hung up like I did last year. Keep moving and don't get hit.”
Kevin had retired going into the event this year but Carson was in his tenth event in 2017 at Estevan. Carson Dixon won the consolation race at last year's Fall Brawl, which was the first one ever held at the track. Cars at the derby get eliminated by either being unable to run or getting stuck.
It's a seemingly simple strategy but others were unable to stay away from the sides and were bashed out and into submission before the Dixons were final.
“Just stay off the banks and you'll do pretty good,” said Dustin Whitrow, who placed third in the final. “They're fresh made. If you get a bank that's there all year round, it's harder. But it's a fresh one so it's soft and as soon as you hit them you're stuck.”
The next and final event of the year will be the Enduro Race Sept. 17. The race will last an hour and a half or 150 laps, whichever comes first. No drivers of any of the usual races for the last five years are allowed to drive in this race and the Estevan Motor Speedway is still looking for entries.
