By Lucy Waldron
The Saturday night of the Allora Show hit its pinnacle with a crash and bang but it was far from a disaster, it was the Demolition Derby.
Crawling out of the crumpled car and emerging from the wreckage unharmed is all part of the thrill for Demolition Derby driver Tanya Elburg.
A seasoned participant in the Allora Show’s demolition derby, Tanya triumphed with pride after clinching fourth place and the coveted “Most Carnage Car“ trophy.
Tanya’s journey into demolition derbies began at 16, following in the footsteps of her family.
“My dad got me and my siblings into it when we were young and now I am the one carrying on the tradition here,” she said.
Likening the sport to being in a car accident, Tanya said the way to mentally and physically prepare yourself is to have determination and learn how to take a hit.
“The goal is to stay focused, just keep going and protect your car,” Tanya said.
In the Allora Show Tanya was the only woman to participate and while she does not cower away from facing the men in the arena she would like to see more women participating in derbies.
There are several challenges that derby drivers encounter such as the costs of repairs or a new vehicle entirely, transporting the vehicle and having a repair team on hand.
Despite these challenges, Tanya remains undeterred, driven by her passion for the sport and a competitive spirit inherited from her family.
While Travis Beckmann picked up first place for the Allora Derby, Tanya is more than happy to walk away with ‘Most Carnage Car’ and she is already on the lookout for another so she can try for that top spot at the Warwick Show.
“I know if I set my mind to it, I can do it. You just got to keep your chin up and keep going.”
