Kings of Crash: Perks of a Younger Driver

Well, it's been fun, but I'm done with this series. I learned a few things and can see where others might get a kick out of watching the drivers, but I just have no interest in crashing cars or the lives of those who find that exhilarating. It was nice for Dalton to win, showing that young blood can put up a fight. The importance of friends really became apparent in this episode, as Gumby and Ryan had issues, Lazenby stepped up to help Mont, and Ryan got creamed by a family-and-friends threesome in the 80s heat. I thought that the purses were a little low for this derby, but at least there were no major injuries! Will you continue to watch Kings of Crash?

Kings of Crash "A Father and Son in Davis" (S01E04): Lazenby's wife removes his stitches and tries to get him to give up on derbying for a bit. But, he won't give in, despite doctor's warnings as well as his wife's. He's not the only one with concerns going into the Davis County Fair Demolition Derby, however. Ryan got his car from Gumby, and when it doesn't fully pass inspections, he questions his competitor's intentions. This event separates drivers in the initial rounds, based on what year their car was built, either regular (pre-1980) or 80s (post-1980). [this made me curious as to what the oldest and youngest cars are to compete!] Heat 1 has Gumby, Johnny Gullo, Mont, Lazenby, and Scooter, plus one other driver. Lazenby is favored, and he, Johnny, and Gumby move on. Mont has transmission problems, and he and Scooter just suffer too much damage. Lazenby helps out Mont with parts. [that's nice, especially as they could wind up against one another in the main event!]

Dalton drives in the second heat, where he's up against a father-son team without his father around. He still makes it, though. Ryan and three others are in the 80s heat, but it's two brothers and a friend who gang up on him. [eep!] He's forced to rush his repairs to compete in the grudge match, where he gets into a bad situation and has to pull his flag. BUT, some other driver didn't even have a flag, so while that gets sorted out, Ryan fixes his car and replaces his flag, which is apparently not allowed. [there was quite a bit of confusion; I wish the show had given more explanation.] He doesn't make it onward, but Mont does!

The main event has a lot of run-around, and Gumby loses his motor. [haha, he swears that he'll reinforce it like crazy next time!] Tt comes down to Johnny and Dalton, but Johnny's transmission goes out and Dalton can't move. [seriously??] In the end, Dalton wins, able to take one last shot (winning $2700). Johnny gets $1700. Lazenby takes third AND the mad dog award, earning $1150.

Kings of Crash: The Return of X44

Gumby compared derbying to chess. Ryan compared it to Risk. I can see both angles, but I think I'll agree with Ryan a little more... there's quite a skill to the gambles you take in those arenas! Plus, in chess people tend to play much more conservatively (like a sandbagger), and in Risk they take chances. Oh, wait. If you missed the first couple of episodes, let me try to explain sandbagging to you, as it came up a lot in this episode. Sandbagging is the opposite of being a mad dog - rather than make the big hits, you make just enough hits to stay in the game, therefore doing less damage to your car and increasing your odds to be "last man standing" and win the money. The Sweats are against this, believing that you should go for broke on your hits to make winning mean something. I tend to run on the cautious side in most things I do, so I understand the mindset of the sandbaggers and don't find them quite as offensive as some of the folks on this show. But, at the same time, I certainly can't relate to the word in terms of crashing into cars!

Velocity, Discovery Communcations

Kings of Crash "Pushing the Grey in SLC" (S01E03): This latest derby is in Gumby's hometown, so there's a lot of pressure on him to do well. However, there are two other issues going on this time - the "veterans" are trying to get back in the game, including car X44 driven by Lynn, plus there is a rumor going around that the rules aren't enforced across the board, giving some drivers an advantage. 

The structure of the car really comes into play this episode, with Ryan struggling to fix his frame so he can even enter, Lazenby thinking his wife should help on the car more, and Gumby's vehicle being built for a much smaller man. [I was surprised that Ryan used to cheat before he met Katy. I also found it interesting that Scooter just told him to trash his work and move on to another car.]

Gumby and Ryan are in the first heat, and Ryan winds up stuck when his motor won't turn over. Similarly, Gumby gets stuck on a bank of dirt. Fortunately, both are awarded mad dog so they can qualify for the main event. [but it didn't seem as if they did this with every heat, so I'm not sure why it happened here...?] Heat 2 has Lazenby, TJ, Mont, plus Mackenzie "The Indian" which makes the round "loaded." Mont can't move after a while and is out, but TJ and The Indian move on. Lazenby's gas tank explodes and they throw buckets of water into the car so they can weld again and he can enter the grudge match (which he wins). [we actually saw someone's tire come off!]

The main event has Lazenby, Ryan, TJ, and Lynn. Gumby was supposed to compete but had unexpected transmission problems. [TJ really thought that Gumby just chickened out?] Ryan repeatedly hits Lynn pretty hard, but he ruins his engine over it. [I know the guy hates sandbaggers and all, but was that worth it?] Similarly, TJ makes a big hit and toasts thousands of dollars and many hours of work. [but, remember, neither of which are as valuable to him as to many of the others.] Lynn wins after Ryan takes too long to move and is disqualified. [after he took off his seatbelt during the event I was pretty worried that he'd get hit! and, sure enough, he did!] The big injury, however, happened to Lazenby, who slammed his head into the steering wheel, driving his glasses into his face. Eleven stitches and a broken nose later, he'll survive. [he's broken his nose so many times that half of it is scar tissue?!? ouch!]  

NEW SHOW: Kings of Crash

I often forget about Velocity, and I think there's two reasons for that. First and foremost, on AT&T UVerse it's on channel 1104, and I never go higher than 366 (SOAP) when I channel-surf. Second, I'm not their demographic... they're really aiming for men with their shows about cars and sports. Plus, it's a young network, re-branding itself as of Fall 2011, so if you've never heard of it, that's not all that surprising, either. Regardless, they gave a presentation of Kings of Crash at TCA last month and I was a little intrigued. Now that I've seen two episodes, it's not really a show for me (not really a car person, much less a demolition derby person), but if it might be your cup of tea, read on. And, if you want to tune in, check out Velocity at 10pm on Sundays.  

Velocity, Discovery Communcations

First, let's do a little who's who...
Mont & Sarah: Car #56. He's 34 and has been derbying since he turned 18. He's a father of four, and his girlfriend Sarah ( from South Carolina) acts as a SAHM.
Gumby & Nicole: #000. He's 43 and has been doing this for 26 years. He's been dating Nicole for eight years, but she thinks derbies are a waste of time. (spoiler: the internet suggests that the two will marry before the end of the season!)
Lazenby & Heather: #23. He's 35 and has been derbying for 16 years. He's been with his wife, Heather, for 12 years. They have two children, 14 and 10 years old. Before the series began, he was down about $6,000 for the derby season. "Tiny" helps him build cars.
Katy Sweat: #33 - a 37-year-old mother of five who has been derbying for 10 years.
Ryan Sweat: #57 - Katy's husband and Mont's older brother, he's a 38-year old who has been derbying for 17 years. He and Mont were raised by different parents so didn't grow up together.
TJ McPhie: #x1 - a 32-year-old who has been derbying for 7 years. He's totaled 20 cars and has the advantage of having his own shop and no family to support. Before the series began he was up about $3,000.
Johnny & Dalton Gullo: #17 - Johnny is a 47-year-old who has been derbying for 24 years. Six years ago, he had a stroke and lost a lot of movement for a long time. Physical therapy wasn't working so he went home and took apart carburetors to get his movement back. [wow!] He and Gumby have really improved the sport and the purses. His 19-year-old son, Dalton, has been racing since he was 15. To them, "It's not a hobby, it's a lifestyle."

Now, let's go over some basic rules...
Each demolition derby is a stand-alone event. You have to make a hit every 60-90 seconds, but can't hit the driver's door. The last car standing wins. You have a pole on your car to show that you're in the game, so if something goes wrong, just yank it. Anybody already en route to you can still make the hit, but nobody new can come toward you.
 
Kings of Crash "To Have and Have Not in Kamas" (S01E01): In Kamas Valley, three heats and a grudge match will determine who goes on to the main event. It's timed so that drivers can work on their cars after their heat and before the grudge match. Lazenby is fined $75 and needs to make some modifications when he doesn't meet all of the standards. The different drivers talk about their strategies, which include targeting (Mont has focused on Lazenby in the past), partnering (TJ helps knock Mont free when he's stuck), and aim (Gumby drives to take out people's tires). [I found it interesting that six cars start in the arena, three at each end, and they start by driving backwards into one another!] In the heats, Ryan gets turned on his side for a moment and is upset that he's removed from racing because his car leaked gas. [this seems to be a grey area - do you have to fully roll over to be removed?]

Women compete in a powderpuff round and move into the final from there, but Katy gets stuck. She can try for the grudge just like Ryan, but he doesn't want them to compete against one another. The majority of the show's drivers participate in the grudge, including Ryan, Gumby, Mont, and Lazenby. [I was surprised by Ryan's move to ruin the initial hits of others.] Ryan gets stuck, Gumby winds up pulling his flag, Lazenby gets stuck, and after Mont knocks Lazenby free, he gets stuck, too. [geez!] Ryan and TJ move on from grudge, but Ryan gives up his spot to Lazenby because he can't compete. We see how dangerous this sport can be when a driver gets hurt and a firetruck drives onto the field to get him out of his car. Sometimes, however, the situation gets dangerous but you keep going, like when Lazenby leaks fluid but continues, just removing his seatbelt to help expedite an emergency exit if needed. [I'm not sure how legal this was, really...] He winds up in third place, winning $2250. TJ comes in first to win $5,000, and Ryan gets the Mad Dog award for $750. [if Lazenby couldn't move in the end though, how did he not get thrown out?]

Kings of Crash "Man Down in Heber" (S01E02): Gumby is in some pain from the previous race, and his girlfriend thinks he should quit. He keeps on truckin', though, as does Lazenby, who has to sink the last derby's winnings into a new transmission for this week's event. [ouch!] It's a tough job to turn around a new car in a week, and Lazenby struggles to get four hours of sleep each night, let alone keep up with chores.

At the race, the first heat includes Mont, Gumby, and TJ. Mont was going to go easy on a certain car, as a friend-of-the-family favor, but after the kid hits him, all bets are off. [as they should be!] TJ and Gumby move on to the final. The second heat has Lazenby, but he gets called out early. The third heat has Ryan Sweat and Johnny Gullo but neither move on to the finals. Gullo was actually injured, so Dalton takes his place in the grudge, which is comprised of six drivers, four of whom are on this show. Ryan has to drive with a hand throttle in the grudge because he ran out of time to fix his. Plus, he barely makes it to the arena due to multiple stalls. Still, he makes some big hits before his car gives out and he's eliminated. Mont also has issues, as does Lazenby, whose gas pedal gets stuck. Lazenby and Mont qualify for the final, but Mont's car is too damaged and he gives his spot to Ryan. [I am pretty impressed with how quickly these guys can fix problems!] But, by this point, Ryan's car hardly turns and he can't even drive it to the gate. [I was surprised that it could get delivered to the arena for him! however, I was pretty grossed out at Ryan saying "I am so thirsty I could suck a wet fart from a duck's @$$ right now."]

The main event was rough, and Lazenby's seatbelt rips, he flips for the very first time, and he winds up needing to be taken away by EMTs! Similarly, Gumby loses color in his vision after a big hit and winds up driving with two flat tires! [I'd be really worried if my vision was affected like that!] In the end, a non-showcased driver took first, TJ took 2nd ($2500), and Gumby took third ($1250). 

Winter TCA 2013: Kings of Crash

Good morning from the second day of the 2013 Winter Press Tour for TCA. This is Cable’s last day of presentations, so we’ll be hearing from the Discovery Networks, Starz, Sundance, BBC America, and the Viacom Networks, plus breakfast with TVLand and cocktails with BET.

For those who were able to make breakfast, we were delighted to be in the company of the Hot in Cleveland cast, Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick, and Betty White. A short message came about the upcoming episodes, and we saw a clip where the girls are playing a Pictionary-esque game with a couple of gentleman callers. The cast didn’t really make many comments, though White joked about Elka being pregnant in an approaching storyline. Journalists who spoke with the ladies seemed to focus on inquiring about the live episode which will air on Wednesday, June 19^th, at 10pm Eastern.

Velocity’s Kings of Crash was the first full presentation of the day, which showcases purposeful car crashes in Utah. Described as brutal, simple, raw, unrehearsed, spontaneous, and highly emotional, the drivers keep coming back because they’re addicted to the adrenaline rush. Panelists included producer Alex Campbell and talent Gumby “The Mormon Maniac,” TJ McPhee, Mont Sweat, Ryan Sweat, and his wife, Katy Sweat. Gumby, also known as the “Stormin’ Mormon,” explains that “safety is the number one priority of the promoters and the drivers,” and that he wants to show people that Mormons in Utah should not be stereotypes as restricted – they certainly can have as much fun as anyone else.

Velocity, Discovery Communcations

Ryan Sweat has been involved in derbies for seventeen years, and Katy began fourteen years ago, the day after having one of their five children. Of the children (ages 18, 13, 12, 8, and 4), one of the daughters likes to paint the cars, one son is very interested and knows about as much as anyone about derby cars, and several of the children help in many ways, including welding. This can come in handy, as it takes a minimum of 60-80 hours and $6,000 - $10,000 to build a derby car. And, although the purses for winning the derbies can get into the thousands of dollars, it is a hobby where spending is high. Gumby subsidizes this a bit with his career in selling used auto parts. Plus, in the summer, they drive to derbies outside of the area, though the group hopes that this show will bring more competitors to the activity, explains Mont Sweat, a carpenter.

Ryan Sweat went into some of the rules involved in their type of demolition derby, where you cannot stay inactive and hope to be the last car standing (which is how his brother, Mont, likes to play). Instead, you must hit a can every sixty to ninety seconds (but not the driver’s door). You also do not have to try to be the last car standing, as Ryan points out that “some drivers go for the purse, some go for the crowd.” McPhee expands that idea by talking about the “Mad Dog” award, which is presented to the hardest driver of the night. Don’t be worried about the cars exploding, though, as Katy Sweat pointed out that the vehicles are heavily modified, and the gas tanks they use are not factory-issued; instead, they go behind the driver’s seat, which is the area to be avoided in collisions. Still, the concept behind demolition derbies remains unchanged. As Ryan Sweat put it, “every kid wants to break something, we’re just showing them how to do it.”

Watch for Kings of Crash to premiere Sunday, February 10^th, at 10pm on Velocity.