Twice a year, the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway holds a wacky novelty event called the Trailer Race of Destruction. It is, without a doubt, the most popular event of the season and draws some of the largest crowds.

So what makes this event so special?
“It is good, silly fun,” said Chuck Deery, Fairgrounds Speedway manager. “There are a lot of smiles around the race track when that race is going on. It is now a tradition and people enjoy it.”

Here is a look at the Trailer Race of Destruction, by the numbers:

4

The number of boats typically in the event

20

Number of employees it takes to clean up the mess

7

Number of trailers or campers typically in the event

3,500

The number of fans that likely will attend

120

Cubic yards of debris that will result from the event

10

Number minutes the race likely will last

5

Number of hours it takes to clean up after the event

4

Flat tires, on average, from the skid steers cleaning up the event

1989

First year the event was held at the Fairgrounds Speedway

Notes: The most indestructable trailer ever a part of the Trailer Race of Destruction was an Airstream, according to Deery. “We had an Airstream trailer that we used in eight trailer races. That thing was just a tank. The cars would bounce off it.” ... A number of animals — skunks, raccoons — have been found in campers during prerace inspections. Mice and snakes have been shaken out of trailers during the actual race. “We have seen mice go running across the race track during the event,” Deery said. ... The most unique trailer that Deery has seen over the years is an old, wooden manure spreader. “They are not allowed any more,” Deery said.

Advertisement