Elmore prepares for Tombstone Derby

10/9/2012

It's race where you could, in a manner of speaking, bury the competition.

With the fright night of candy-seeking ghouls and goblins approaching, the Elmore Chamber of Commerce is putting plans in place for its eighth annual Tombstone Derby to be held Oct. 27 in Depot Park.

The festivities begin at 9 a.m.

Participants in the motorized casket races can use any kind of vehicle such as a golf cart or four wheeler, but the body must be built to resemble a casket. Halloween decorations on the vehicle are welcome.

In past years, the race has drawn up to a few hundred people who come to see the competitors in their homemade caskets. Some racers use real caskets.

Vehicles must have brakes and may not exceed 25 mph during the race. There is a $20 entry fee. 

The Tombstone Derby came to life in 2005 after Mayor Lowell Krumnow had considered celebrations in other communities and figured the Elmore Historical Society could drive home a Halloween theme. At the time, the mayor said he wanted to take a community celebration off in a different direction and that he has always loved Halloween. 

Derby day traditionally features a casket, er, whole basket of spirited festivities, including pumpkin carving and pie baking contests; pumpkin carving demonstrations, lots of goulish food (think goulash and other fall festival grub); ghost stories and fortunetellers, and parades.