Auxvasse Lions Club is holding its annual spring Demolition Derby at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
Donal Knipp with the Lions Club described the long-running fundraiser as an "exciting night" that always generates strong support from the community.
"It's easy to put on and we always get a good crowd - people follow it (the derby circuit)," Knipp said. "It's just a fun night."
Gates open at 4 p.m., with $10 admission and another $10 for a pit pass. Children under age 10 get in free with their parents, "so it's not too expensive to come," Knipp noted. No coolers or alcohol are allowed, but there will be food and concessions available on the grounds.
Car check-in starts at 3 p.m., with a $25 entry fee per car and driver and $20 for a rider.
Prizes for the modified class are $1,000 and a trophy for first place, $500 and a trophy for second place, and $250 and a trophy for third place. Cash prizes for the compact class are $500 for first, $250 for second and $150 for third, with trophies for the top three finishers as well.
Cloyd Browning, who will be officiating, said the event drew more than 20 cars last year - most of them in the compact class.
Browning said there will be a change to the rules this year: cars will not be disqualified for being knocked over the dirt.
"We're going to keep it on the track," he said.
Proceeds from the derby will go to support Lions Club projects.
"Locally, we send a kid every year to Boys' State and Girls' State, and we give a $500 scholarship to a North Callaway student," Knipp said. "We also buy glasses for kids and support the LCIF (Lions Club International Foundation), the charitable arm for the Lions."
He pointed out that if there is a disaster locally - for instance a tornado - some of that money would potentially come back to the community again in the form of an "immediate $10,000 grant to help with recovery."
Knipp said he would encourage area residents to attend the derby and support the cause.
"Come out, have a good time," he said. "The weather should be nice. It's just a nice time to be here."
Katherine Cummins can be reached at (573) 826-2418 or [email protected].