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| Written by Marc Aceves | Patterson Irrigator | |
| Friday, 25 July 2008 | |
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Brothers Jason and Keith Yamamoto prep for destruction derby Patterson’s Jason and Keith Yamamoto drive their cars as if they have a score to settle. And they aren’t afraid of wrecking a few vehicles to make it happen.  Fixin' to go: Westley residents Jason (left) and Keith Yamamoto add the finishing touches to the metal machines they will enter in the annual Stanislaus County Fair Traditional Turmoil destruction derby event, showcased Monday evening at the Food Maxx Arena in Turlock. Photo by Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator “This is a sport that is 90 percent luck and only 10 percent ability,” Jason said. Demolition cars are typically stripped down and reinforced specifically for crack-up races. Jason will appear in his seventh consecutive Stanislaus County Fair derby. “Once I got that (initial) taste in my mouth, I wanted to compete each year and get better,” Jason said. “I try to improve with each (derby) and advance at least one step farther than I had in the previous year.” Keith — taking part in his first derby — knew years ago that he would eventually compete alongside his older brother. “I’ve been looking forward to this since I was about 15,” said Yamamoto, 18. “Everything that I’ve done to prepare for this (derby), Jason has told me to do. He tells me something and I just do it.” The roaring engines, burning rubber and grinding metal annually attract large crowds, as folks pack into Food Maxx Arena to watch one of the fair’s most popular draws. Some competitors are drivers who use their old automobiles. Others buy outdated clunkers just for the competition. The vehicles are souped up to inflict the maximum amount of damage and are painted like stock cars. Despite their worn exteriors, Jason’s 1964 Chrysler New Yorker and Keith’s 1963 Chrysler Newport are a pair of tough machines — and after a set of new tires and a check of the fluids, the cars will be ready for battle Monday night. “I’ve been in the pits with Jason before,” Keith said. “There’s a real thrill to working on the cars in between heats. Just like any other sport, (destruction derbies) definitely get your adrenaline flowing.” Both brothers were standout athletes in high school, and they agreed that the rush of a derby competition is similar to the feel of a Friday night football game. “When you go out there, you want to hurt something,” Keith said. “This is a reckless sport. You want to do as much damage as possible to another car without hurting yourself in the process.” Jason added that it is certainly not for everyone. “I really enjoy the thrill of beating up on another car,” Jason said. “I like to beat on other drivers until I know that I own the better half of them.” While the competition on the arena floor can be fierce, it’s all about teamwork in the pit, Jason said. He enlisted friends Johnny Acevedo and Tony Zuniga to help him to prepare his ride for the derby. Keith’s crew is slightly larger. “Let’s see,” he said. “Juan Gonzalez, Justin Goubert, Artie Rivera, Alex Bergwerf, Larry Navarro, Scott Trinta and Andrew Ramirez — I think that’s everyone.” Both drivers are sponsored by Yamamoto Farms, Michael Lara and YNL Farms, among others. As is the case in many extreme motor sports, the inherent risk of injury during a derby is constant. The pounding can get rough, and some cars don’t last 10 minutes, if the others choose to gang up on them. Shortly after the start, there is a graveyard of vehicles contorted in positions almost unimaginable to the average driver. But what would be a bad day on the highway is a good day for derby drivers. “Theoretically, I go out there to win, but there is always someone better or someone who was able to put more money into their car,” Jason said. “I am trying to run at least two heats and have some fun.” On the surface, the derby may appear to be nothing but an exercise in violence. There is, however, an aspect of strategy involved with drivers twisting and turning to try to hit other cars’ weak spots while protecting their own. “You can’t go out there and have a ‘one-shot wonder,’” Jason said. “You want to hit little and hit correctly. “It’s like a chess match,” he added. “You want to hit this person so that you have that next person lined up. But, if you’re going to hit this person, you want to make sure that that next person isn’t going to come along and take your front end out.” Competitors do not know which heat they will appear in until the day of derby. The potential for a head-to-head meeting is something both brothers have considered. “I just feel sorry for all of the other guys that are still out there (including Jason),” Keith said. “I’ll put him into the wall,” Jason replied. Still, both said it would make more sense for the two of them to work together, rather than against each other. “I did just as much work on his car as he did on mine,” Keith said. “If we see someone (and we’re in the same heat) and we want to hit him, we can both work together to take that driver out.” To reach Marc Aceves at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it At a glance WHAT: Destruction Derby I: Traditional Turmoil WHEN: 7 p.m. Monday WHERE: Stanislaus County Fair, 900 N. Broadway, in Turlock INFO: www.stancofair.com/entertainment/motorsports.html LOCAL DRIVERS: Nick Gustafson, Kyle Guido, Brant Kaiser, Jake Smith, Jake Martinez, Matthew Holloway, Jason Yamamoto and Keith Yamamoto
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