We've always considered ourselves rugged and manly men. We don't own sissy four-cylinder rides or big luxury sedans, we love the smell of grease at the crack of dawn, and we especially like toting a Sawzall across our shoulders when we venture into the junkyard. However, after witnessing this year's inaugural Matt King Classic demolition derby during our annual Car Craft Summer Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota, we think we've found someone just a little bit more hard-core than us.
Meet Jeff Nester and his Brew Crew cronies from Minnetrisa, Minnesota. At the tender age of 29, Nester has been involved with demolition derbies for over a decade, and he wields a plasma cutter like a scalpel. He's already built 15 different demo cars and has taken home more than his fair share of prize winnings as the last man standing-or running. Nester scours wrecking yards, barn yards, backyards, and just about everywhere to find fresh fodder, but his personal preference in derby cars are the early-'80s Olds 98s for their massive size and sheer durability. The brutality of a demolition derby needs to be experienced by everyone at least once in a lifetime, and if we had the time, we'd even think about building a car ourselves. Hot Rod's got a few spare cars in the shop that would work just fine.
Car Craft Q&ACar Craft: How long does it take to build a car like this from start to finish?
Jeff Nester: Not long at all. You just have to kick out the windows, strip the interior, and chain down the body panels. Of course there's more to it, but we finished this one in two days including the paint and graphics.
CC: What's the average life span of a demo car?JN: We can usually get two derbies out of a car. It just depends on how bad you get beat up on during competition.
CC: How often do you compete?JN: Every chance I can.
CC: Do you consider the sport safe?JN: Of course, otherwise I wouldn't do it. Well, actually I still would.
CC: What was it like competing on asphalt at the Matt King Classic versus the more traditional dirt surfaces?JN: It was insane. The cars were much faster and things were much more destructive at those speeds.
The DetailsCar: Jeff Nester's '81 Olds 98Engine: '76 Olds 350 small-blockHeads: Factory cast-iron, 1.87/1.62-inch intake/exhaust valvesExhaust: Custom 111/42-inch zoomie-style headersInduction: Stock with factory Quadrajet carbPower: Not a lotTransmission: Stock TH350Rearend: Stock 10-bolt, welded spider gearsFront suspension: Stock, removed sway barRear suspension: Stock, removed sway barBrakes: Stock 11-inch discs, front; stock 9.5-inch drums, rearWheels and tires: Stock steelies with junkyard rubber front and rearPaint: Aura Black Pearl Coat by Ryan Harth with custom green and orange graphics by Rusty TownsendCost to build: $50