Although the Lorah family has been farming for over 100 years, the events side of the business didn’t exist until 2006. Kept in business by much demand, on Memorial Day weekend they hosted a Demolition Derby that was fun for everyone who came.

Lorah’s Truck and Tractor Pulls only recently started to add junk car races and demolition derbies to the schedule. For participants like Allen Russell of Coaldale and Zach Schaller of Schnecksville, it’s the kind of event they look forward to all year.

“If you have never seen a demolition derby, it’s going to be a treat,” Russell said. “We’re a little loud, but we’re good people.”

Both Russell and Schaller had the company of their families at the derbies, and Schaller’s brother and father also participated as drivers themselves.

“We just find a car, strip it, put a seat bar and a bumper and some of our parts and just go have fun,” Schaller explained.

Considering the prizes and winning titles at hand, there’s a mix of fun and competition that go into these types of events.

Derby Announcer Dennis Bealer of Bangor said that Lorah’s promoter, Old School Productions, has a list of safety mandates that the drivers must also adhere to in order to participate. An example of a requirement includes a needed hole cut into the hood for firemen to easily extinguish the engine in case of a fire.

Lehigh Township Fire Company volunteers at Lorah’s events stand by in case of something catching fire or participants who may be in need of assistance.

First-time derby-goer Betty Paynkewicz of Quakertown enjoyed her first experience and said it was “awesome,” reporting it’s something she’d like to experience again.

Also in attendance- but as vendors- was Amy Nyce and her daughters, Glada Nyce, 12, and Alexis MaKenna, 19, along with a family friend, Mia Soldridge, 10. This team sold nearing 75 bracelets as an event vendor in order to raise money for Amy’s fight against cancer.

A friend of the family also participated in the derby with a car which was decorated with the known breast cancer support color of pink and was also labeled in words of support to Amy.

Lorah’s Truck and Tractor Pulls provide food from menu options that are farm fresh and home cooked which includes the family’s personal favorites such as hot dogs and chicken fingers.

Olivia Lorah, 19, of Lorah’s Truck and Tractor Pulls, reported that there was a total of 52 drivers at the May 29 emolition derby. Winners were: Tim Mann, large car; Devin Schmidt, stock car; Weston Schaffer, small car;

Joe Caicedo, Mini Van/SUV/Truck; Tobie Behler, midsize.

A winner is selected with a “last car standing” approach. The classes crash and slam together in the pit until drivers can no longer move their vehicles and the last vehicle that is still packing in hits and driving around wins for their class.

All future events can be found at www.lorahspulls.com.