One of the mainstays of the Millicent Show was set to celebrate a significant milestone in 2024 but last minute cancellation stymied the celebrations,<\/p>\n
Long time organiser and demo star Jim Garner did get some good news late in 2024 though with his induction in the sport\u2019s Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
This is his journey in the high octane sport.<\/p>\n
The Demolition Derby was first run in 1999 and quickly became one of the show\u2019s biggest drawcards.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
His first car cost $15 and he bought it from a police officer \u2013 never looking back.<\/p>\n
By 1977, he was showcasing his skills at South Australia\u2019s premier speedway venue Rowley Park, winning the demo at his first visit and pocketing $1000.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were so many times when people could not believe I could keep the car going,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI then started running indoor events Australia wide \u2013 Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and then back to Sydney,\u201d Jim said. \u201cWe did it from 95-97 and I walked away with the Australian Championship three years in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n
In fact, Jim\u2019s son Joe, who followed in his footsteps, won the warm up event three consecutive years as well.<\/p>\n
Basically if Jim ran in an event he won it \u2013 one memorable weekend competing in five events in one weekend and winning four of the five \u2013 clocking up 189 in his storied career, dominating almost every event he entered from the 1970s through to the 2000s.<\/p>\n
He was also part of the World\u2019s Largest Demo held at Murray Bridge where 116 cars were in the field.<\/p>\n
Jim\u2019s biggest every pay day was $10,000 at a Wayville Showgrounds event but much of his prizemoney ended up back in the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u2019t need the money and wanted to put it back into the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n
So when Ron Thompson approached him about putting on a demo at the Millicent Show \u2013 an event in his own backyard \u2013 he was happy to lend his expertise, doing everything from drumming up nominations to securing affordable insurance for the event.<\/p>\n
And the event has built up an eclectic history.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a 16 year old kid win it, a woman has won it, a police officer has won it,\u201d Jim said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have best looking team, the best looking car, most entertaining driver and we like to reward the drivers with trinkets \u2013 we treat everyone as a winner. We are the only demo that gives a special prize to the first team eliminated.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne time I actually took the car to Glencoe Primary and let the kids paint it \u2013 they had so much fun,\u201d Jim said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the mainstays of the Millicent Show was set to celebrate a significant milestone in 2024 but last minute cancellation stymied the celebrations, Long time organiser and demo star Jim Garner did get some good news late in 2024 though with his induction in the sport\u2019s Hall of Fame. This is his journey in […]<\/p>\n