Crunch Time
photos by David Halterman

With the arrival of the La Plata County Fair last week came the familiar smells of cotton candy, cheap, stuffed animals and janitor sawdust for those upset tummies on the twirley rides. And if you were around on Saturday, you may have smelled gasoline, anti-freeze and gear oil as dozens of old junkers took to the dirt for a jolly, old demolition derby. Car-crushing action kept the crowd roaring throughout the high-octane event, which has become a staple of rural and county fairs across the nation. And with a sold-out show this year, hundereds of eager fans gladly paid for their seats, although they only needed the edge.