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Steamboat Springs — Demolition derby drivers are in short supply for this year's Routt County Fair, but organizers hope the numbers pick up.

No one had signed up as of Thursday, though Don Hayes said he'd received oral commitments from people interested in mashing metal. The derby was a new addition last year and is one of a variety of events that are open to locals. The fair starts Friday with the Open Horse Show and runs through Aug. 16. The demolition derby is Aug. 14.

Last year, Colorado's Demolition Derby Racing Association ran the event and brought in contestants.

"We decided as a Fair Board that we would have : our own this year," Hayes said. "But with the economy and sponsorship being down ... I don't know if people just don't have the liquid capital."

He's gotten calls from as far away as Montrose and Delta from people who are interested in getting in on derby action. Participants must pay $50, and pit passes for others are $25. All the money goes to the purse, Hayes said.

"You win prize money for winning your class (by being) the last car standing," he said. "The way that is, is every car has to be making aggressive hits, and if you don't hit somebody within a two-minute time frame, you're outta there."

High Stakes Towing in Hayden has added door prizes for the crowd and $500 for the purse. Routt County Auto Parts also contributed prizes, and American Towing has offered to help people who want to compete but don't have a car for the derby, Hayes said.

Vehicles must be properly outfitted. Hayes said he could provide information about the rules, or people can visit the Routt County Fair's Web site. All types of cars are welcome, Hayes said.

"If you bring it, we'll find a place to put it, and we'll let you play in the sandbox," he said.

Hayes had hoped to promote a cross-valley rivalry with Moffat County demolition derby contestants, but Moffat canceled its derby. That was scheduled for Aug. 7, Moffat County Fair Director Carol Haskins said. Fair officials cut it because of lack of interest, she said.

"We're referring them all to the Routt County one," Haskins said about those who wanted to participate.

Preparations

Routt County Fair Manager Jill Delay is in the midst of working on final logistics for the fair at the Hayden grounds. She had been concerned about the sound system after a spring lightning strike knocked part of it out.

The problem is nearly solved, Delay said.

"We didn't have to replace anything except for two amps and a speaker, and we're working on all that right now," she said. "Everything's running because we switched some amps around."

Fair officials had to cancel the saddle bronco riding because of a lack of sponsorship, Delay said.

"This year, of course, it's scaled back just like the rest of the world with the economy," she said. "One new event that we're actually pretty excited about this year is the freestyle reining on Saturday. We've never done that before, but it's a pretty popular horse event."

Some describe it as a mix of figure skating and reining, Delay said. The event is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Aug. 15.

Also new this year is a "you be the judge" event Aug. 12. People are asked to make pink scarves, and members of the public will vote on them. Winners get prizes, and proceeds from sales of the scarves will benefit the Yampa Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Project.

Information about the events is available at www.routtcountyfair.org.

Delay encouraged Routt residents to compete or contribute at the fair.

"There's so many places for people where it's easy to participate, and it's fun," she said. "It's a lot more fun if you're participating rather than just watching."