JEFFERSON — It’s something many motor fans have been enjoying for years, either as a simple spectator or as a participant. As is the case with all sports as they evolve through technological developments, conditions in the ever-present demolition derby events that can be found at local fairs across the country have changed.

Halls of fame for other sports exist to provide both personal recognition and a good history lesson for fans in many arenas. This coming session of the Ashtabula County Fair in Jefferson, we also can witness the birth of a hall of fame that doesn’t exist in too many places, especially in this area.

The brainchild of local demo derby “nut” Lloyd Morris of Rock Creek, this week will celebrate the birth of the Ashtabula County Demolition Derby Hall of Fame at the fairgrounds in Jefferson.

“I grew up a demolition derby nut,” Morris said. “It was the highlight of the fair for me and my brothers for years. I’ve talked with other drivers lately as things get ready for this year, and it seemed only right that some of the guys who have been in it for years should be celebrated. Their efforts in the early years are what made demo such a big form of entertainment today.”

The first class of inductees to be honored this year has deep roots in the sport, dating back to the early 70s era when other sports involving cars were more popular to many, such as oval track racing and drag racing.

The first inductees to the HOF are local residents Bob Shinault, Sr., and Dan Cline, veterans of the early days who helped provide pivotal leadership to area drivers and fans for years while building storehouses of memories for themselves and families that will be passed down the family trees for years as well.

Shinault started out back in 1973 on the derby circuit, according to his son, Bob Jr. The victim of a stroke which has incapacitated him in some ways, including the ability to speak, the elder Shinault, now 60, was one of the original thoroughbreds of the sport who never missed an event at the county fair in 30 years.

“Dad never missed a derby from 73 to 03,” the younger Shinault said. “Dad won six titles for the derby and over 30 heat wins along the way. We had done some drag racing before that at places like Thompson Drag Raceway and other tracks, but Dad wanted to try something different. We got into demo derbys at fairs and Raceway 7, it really was a lot of fun for all of our family, and he passed the love of the sports down to all of us.”

Shinault Jr. had continued to drive in derbys until about two years ago. With rising costs added to the time and effort in helping the inductee to proceed through recovery from his stroke, he just hasn’t been able to stay involved with the sport, but he hopes that will change soon.

“This is a great honor for Dad,” he said. “We just found out about this a couple weeks ago, or my brother and I would have pushed harder to get a car ready for this year’s derby. There just wasn’t enough time or money to do it, but we plan on doing something to be ready for next year. We all had so much fun doing this, it’s only right that we honor Dad by getting back into it when we can.”

Dan Cline, 59, of North Kingsville, is more than excited to be part of the inaugural class of the HOF with his good friend Shinault.

“This is just fantastic, to be picked for something so wonderful,” he said via phone interview this week. “My uncle, Elmer Cline, had one of the largest junk yards in the county when I was little. He’d let us poke around and find cars that could still run, drive them around the yard and smash them up. I was hooked, and the love of the sport has gone on down through my two sons and also my four grandchildren.  

“My wife, Dorothy, is involved, and from the time I got going with it in around 86 or so, until I stopped a few years later, the love of it all just snowballed on us.”

While competition is so important, camaraderie with each other may be the biggest part of the sport.

“There’s no big money in demo derbys,” Cline said. “You definitely don’t get into it for the money. The biggest part of it is helping others to be part of it all and then turning on the competitive juices once the contest starts. After that starting horn or gun, it’s every man for himself.”

Cline’s love of the sport got him deeply into a nationwide circuit for a while.

“Once we got going locally,” he added, “we started to travel farther to get better cars to run. We went down South for cars, out West, and as we progressed with better cars, we had more successes in derbys, too.”

Their friendship since the early days has held true, with levels of mutual respect that is common in many sports as well.

“Bob and I did a lot of competing all over the area for a long time,” said Cline. “I’m sad that he’s having health problems these days because he’s a great guy with a wealth of knowledge about cars to share. Sharing what we know is a key part of something like this, but as I said, you’re friends before and after events, but once things get going, you’re on your own and you do anything you can to win.”

“When I first thought about starting this hall of fame,” Morris said, “I talked with Dan, and his first comment was ‘what about Bob?’”

That shows the deep respect and caring attitude among drivers.

Morris shared a story about his (Morris’) first endeavor with the sport.

“When I decided to try my first demolition derby,” he said, “I had no formal training on what to do. I bought an old car and tried to just wing it. I even drove from home in Plymouth Township to Conneaut for my first race. When I got there, the inspector checked things over and decided the car was not ready to have in the derby. She flat out told me I could not take part.

“Other drivers were kind of secretive about their cars and didn’t help much, but Dan came right over after hearing the inspector tell me I couldn’t run, brought over his pit crew, and helped me fix my car to comply with the rules. He spent over two hours that night helping me, and I’ve seen him do the same for others as well.”

Health issues have taken the driving part of demolition derby from Shinault and Cline. Cline was hurt in an accident in 2004 that has halted his driving, but with two sons and four grandkids all loving the sport, it appears a long line of Clines will be heard from, and the same goes for the Shinaults.

“With such a great honor for my Dad,” Bobby Shinault Jr. said, “I don’t have any doubt that my brother and I will shoot for next year to get back on the track to honor him.”

The bloodlines are there, the love of the sport is there, and without fail, the urge to compete is still there for this year’s first class of the Ashtabula County Fair Demolition Derby Hall of Fame, Bob Shinault Sr. and Dan Cline. Respect for each other, for the sport, and the simple thrill of it all will be leading into the birth of this hall of fame, and what is in store for the future, nobody knows.

Thanks to an idea in the mind of Lloyd Morris, though, as well as newly aroused memorabilia which no doubt sits in closets and basements all over the county, the Ashtabula County Demolition Derby Hall of Fame is now a reality that fans of all ages will be able to appreciate and enjoy. The enthusiasm will only grow as the legends of the sport become more well known.

Dan Cline sums it all up very well.

“This is just such a wonderful thing to happen,” he said. “I’ve got video tapes, pictures, albums, all kinds of things from our driving days that will be great to share with everybody. It’s such a great sport , and I’m proud to have been a part of it. There’s no telling how many great people that have great stories to share will become part of this whole thing, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”

For Morris, this labor of love has built within him for a long time.

“I’ve idolized these guys for year after year after year,” he added.  “I grew up with the demolition derby, and these guys have been a big part of the fair and my life for so long, I felt it was time they were honored.”

Kelly is a freelance writer from Jefferson.

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