BAKER CITY HERALD • THuRsDAY, AugusT 11, 2022 A5
LOCAL
Crushing
Continued from A1
There wasn’t a speck of
gleaming chrome left on the
original machine, the bones
if not the very tattered soul of
the Cordoba, given life and
fuel. The dash is gone. So is
the dome light and the speed-
ometer.
But when O’Dell pressed
down on the gas pedal the V-8
made nearby windows rattle.
Stock Cordoba engines
ranged up to 190 horsepower
in peak conditions.
“Some people get really seri-
ous, some are in it for money,”
O’Dell said. “There’s two dif-
ferent classes, this is a chain
and bang car, it all has to be
factory standard. If you take
a car and just drive it off the
road, and then hook some
chains and pull it into the
derby, this is like that.”
At Precision Import Auto
Repair shop in Baker City,
which O’Dell and Jesse Chris-
tensen own, O’Dell prepared
the machine for the rigors of
vehicular mayhem.
“The other class is what they
call the unlimited class, and
they get really serious with
that,” he said, allowing more
extreme modifications than
simple reinforcement — short
of outright weaponry and haz-
ards, of course.
Gloves, safety harness, hel-
met, Hans neck brace aside,
the beams he’s welded to the
car protect it and him from the
damage of a serious roll, re-
inforced with a gauge of steel
Ian Crawford/Baker City Herald
Karmen O’Dell detailing the welded changes they’ll make to his
Chrysler Cordoba to make it fit to compete in the Demolition Derby
on Aug. 6, 2022.
Karmen O’Dell/Contributed Photo
After the derby the Cordoba was hauled away to a more final resting place, having earned its claim to 2nd
place overall.
in O’Dell’s office at Precision
Import but whatever you do,
don’t wipe off the dust and
grime.
“It’s still covered in dirt from
the derby,” said O’Dell, and for
him it’s all part of the glory.
two 15-minute heats with a pit
stop between them, Karmen
smashed his way to the finals
and ultimately took home sec-
ond place, $1,000 and a shin-
ing trophy for proof.
The trophy is on display
BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND
Prepare for
Power Outages
& Save Money
CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE
GU
T
EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER!
NATIO
TE
15 % & 10 %
2
1
RD
E
’S
FREE
WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR
Ian Crawford/Baker City Herald
Karmen O’Dell behind the wheel of his ‘78 Chrysler Cordoba, a car
later transformed to survive the Haines Demolition Derby on Aug. 6,
2022.
N
Prepare for power
outages today
demolition derbies in Lakev-
iew, where he grew up,” O’Dell
said. “He brought it to my at-
tention, (offering to drive) and
I said yes,” and simple as that,
O’Dell was getting strapped
in, helmed up and knuckled
down in demolition driving.
Awards included best and
worst looking, hardest hit de-
livered and most miles trav-
eled, but grand prizes were
all about endurance, last one
standing taking the pot.
O’Dell was there to have a
blast, prizes or nay, but after
nearly 30 minutes of bashing,
TH
Ian Crawford/Baker City Herald
The derby trophy resides on
O’Dell’s desk at Precision Import
Auto in Baker City.
tubing you might more expect
to connect to a fire hydrant.
Even then, it’s against the rules
to bash in the driver’s door in
derbies entirely.
Paying in part, O’Dell also
lined up support from Baker
Brothers Mobile Tire, Ladd’s
Auto, Robert and Ben Cut-
shall and Baker Beverage and
Mixer Shoppe.
“Also I want to thank Terry
Yates, Rocky Soder and why
not, Jesse Christensen here,”
said O’Dell, pointing out his
mechanic and business partner.
“Terry had done a lot of
R GU
A
OFF
7-Year Extended
Warranty*
$0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS
FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!
A $695 Value!
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!
Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions
Promo Code: 285
1
Subject to credit approval. Call for details.
ACT NOW TO RECEIVE
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE
CALL US TODAY FOR
A $300 SPECIAL OFFER!*
(844) 989-2328
CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE
(877) 557-1912
*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the
generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.
OFF
SENIORS &
MILITARY!
YOUR ENTIRE
PURCHASE *
1
A FREE ESTIMATE
+
5 % OFF
WE INSTALL
YEAR-ROUND!
TO THE FIRST 50
CALLERS ONLY! **
LIFETIME
WARRANTY
1-855-536-8838
Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST
For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. *Off er valid at time of estimate only 2The leading consumer reporting agency
conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” Manufac-
tured in Plainwell, Michigan and processed at LMT Mercer Group in Ohio. See Representative for full warranty details. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License#
7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License#
2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905
Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration#
PA069383 Suff olk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114
*Off er value when purchased at retail.
Solar panels sold separately.
SPIN OUR MEGA SLOT AND WIN!
HIT
AND
Win $250,000 cash!
Club tier Drawings
each night
Drawings every 30 minutes
Friday & Saturday, 6–9:30pm
8:30pm
Win up to $1,200 Cash!
9pm
Win up to $1,500 Cash!
9:30pm
Win up to $2,000 Cash!
WOMEN WITH GAME
Join us on the greens of one of
America’s top casino golf courses to
watch future stars of the LPGA!
AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4
BUY TICKETS TODAY
Visit wildhorseresort.com
or scan here:
Win like an EPSON Tour Pro
Swing in
and WIN
GREAT GOLF GEAR!
Diff erent prizes each day!
Wednesday, August 31–Monday, September 5
Winner announced daily, 4pm
CASINO • HOTEL • GOLF • CINEPLEX • RV
MUSEUM • DINING • TRAVEL PLAZA • FUNPLEX
800.654.9453 • PENDLETON, OR • I-84, EXIT 216 • wildhorseresort.com • Owned and operated by CTUIR
Management reserves all rights to alter, suspend or withdraw promotions/offers at any time.
CAT11879-1
AND
MORE!