Australian King of Demo Derby looks back

One of the mainstays of the Millicent Show is set to celebrate a significant milestone when the time honoured event unleashes its three day program from November 8-10.

The Demolition Derby was first run in 1999 and quickly became one of the show’s biggest drawcards.

And that was helped in no small part by the fact that a legend of the sport, Jim Garner, has had his fingerprints all over the event since its inception and he is still the brains behind the crowd pleasing show.

Jim has been part of the demolition derby scene in Australia for five decades, running in his first demo in the 1974/75 season at the Borderline Speedway.

Safe to say the former driver immediately showed a penchant for the sport, named the most entertaining driver the following year, Jim then basically spent decades filling his trophy cabinet with local, State and national victories.

His first car cost $15 and he bought it from a police officer – never looking back.

By 1977, he was showcasing his skills at South Australia’s premier speedway venue Rowley Park, winning the demo at his first visit and pocketing $1000.

Basically he was the known as the Demo King of Australia at the tail end of the 1970s and he never looked like giving up that crown.

“There were so many times when people could not believe I could keep the car going,” Jim said.

He had so many impressive runs including nine consecutive victories at Portland demos, the same consecutive streak in Daylesford, as he went on a run that saw him win at every Victorian track and needless to say, he also had a similar record with victories at every South Australian track and spent some time driving in new South Wales and bringing their silverware home as well.

Jim was not just a star of the sport, he was also a pioneer, as the headline act and chief organiser of the first indoor demolition derby in South Australia at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

“I then started running indoor events Australia wide – Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and then back to Sydney,” Jim said. “We did it from 95-97 and I walked away with the Australian Championship three years in a row.”

In fact, Jim’s son Joe, who followed in his footsteps, won the warm up event three consecutive years as well.

Basically if Jim ran in an event he won it – one memorable weekend competing in five events in one weekend and winning four of the five – clocking up 189 in his storied career, dominating almost every event he entered from the 1970s through to the 2000s.

He was also part of the World’s Largest Demo held at Murray Bridge where 116 cars were in the field.

Jim’s biggest every pay day was $10,000 at a Wayville Showgrounds event but much of his prizemoney ended up back in the sport.

“I used to give prizemoney I won at one speedway to another speedway. I always gave it to a different speedway to where I won so everything remained above board. I didn’t need the money and wanted to put it back into the sport.”

So when Ron Thompson approached him about putting on a demo at the Millicent Show – an event in his own backyard – he was happy to lend his expertise, doing everything from drumming up nominations to securing affordable insurance for the event.

And the event has built up an eclectic history.

“We’ve had a 16 year old kid win it, a woman has won it, a police officer has won it,” Jim said.

All you need to do is be a member of the Millicent Show Society and then there are the usual array of prizes on offer outside of the top three finishers.

“We have best looking team, the best looking car, most entertaining driver and we like to reward the drivers with trinkets – we treat everyone as a winner. We are the only demo that gives a special prize to the first team eliminated.”

It has seen Millicent become a popular event in the demo circuit and there will be plenty of interest at the 25th anniversary event.

“Michael Kemp from Broken Hill is coming, the Williams family from Adelaide, there are four of them and Chris Warnock is coming along with his daughter and grand daughter,” Jim said.

“People just love the way we present it and find it a well run and fun demo to be a part of.”

And Jim has always been hands on, building and modifying cars for demos his entire career, as well as the obligatory painting of the car.

“One time I actually took the car to Glencoe Primary and let the kids paint it – they had so much fun,” Jim said.

Check out the Millicent Show website and social media platforms for mor details on this year’s 25th Anniversary Demolition Derby.