Why do people flock to demolition derby?

It’s an age-old question that can only be answered if you understand the psychology behind why people like to see a good fight break out at a hockey game — or two football players jabbing each other in the line.

We all like a little excitement.

Saturday night folks came to the Webster Fair Demolition Derby — and what they came for ... well, it happened.

First there was Webster’s Nick Werdier slamming his car into Paul Mueller's car.

To everyone’s amazement, Mueller’s car flipped over, wheels in the air for all to see.

Mueller, of Milltown, crawled out nearly unscathed, raised his arms in the air and the crowd roared it’s approval.

Then, to everyone’s amazement, Mueller went on to win his heat and capture the top prize. This time when he crawled out of his car he was all smiles.

Mueller built much of the car himself.

As if that were not enough, there was near pandamonium when Scott Clifford Sr. of Pine City, MN slammed up, onto a birm, narrowly missed a flagman, and shot toward the crowd.

But Clifford, with a very quick manuver, guided his car straight down the aisle between the birm and the crowd, waving as he drove along.

The flagman, admitting it was a close call, said simply, “See fat men can run.” Later one of the cars lost a wheel. Did that stop him? Hardly!

He kept going and stayed in the race until the very end.

Then there was Jim Johnson in his “Grizz X-4” vehicle that got hung up in a corner and seemed to be “dead in the water for all to see.”

Suddenly he got the car going, roared back and began slammin’ and bangin’ once again. He didn’t win, but he gave it the old demo derby try.

It was an overflow, standing room only crowd that watched the derby in the remodeled Webster Fair arena.

The committees have been busy creating the derby into a much safer affair and in recent years they’ve added seating — yet played to an overflow crowd.

No derby would be complete without those who want to race but feel a little, well intrepid. One such racer was Werdier, who showed little holding back once got onto the track.

“It’s going to be tough,” he said before the race.

And there’s always the first-time, like Eddie Hubbell, who finished second and nearly won, losing on a judges decision.

“This was my first race. I was nervous, but I did pretty well,” said Hubbell.

Winners included:

Announcers Choice Trophy: Kevin Jones, Cushing; Compact Size Stock car: Crowd pleaser and first place: Paul Mueller, w; second: Jordan Werdier, Webster and third: Clifford Thompson, Shell Lake.

Compact-size pickup: crowd pleaser and first place: Craig Jones, Cushing; second: Scott Clifford, Sr., Pine City, MN; third: Keith Saumer, Pine City, MN.

Full-size car 1980 or newer: crowd pleaser and first place: Dallas Miller, Danbury: second: Ed Hubbell, Siren; third Darrell Fossum, Siren.

Full-size car: Crowd pleaser Duane Roberts, Grantsburg; first-Derek Craft, Ham Lake, MN; second Eric Waba, East Bethel, MN; third: Jim Johnson, Grantsburg.

Full Size Pickup: Crowd pleaser: Duane Roberts, Grantsburg; Watermelon crasher Corey Smestad, Grantsburg; first Ture Duden, Clear Lake; second, Jeremy Adams, Clayton and third Ryan Sottam, Barron.

NOTE: The Sentinel errored in not have Paul Mueller's named as the driver in the car that tipped over. We used anj incorrect name. It's been corrected and we apologize for the mistake.