Hit hard, have fun: Medina native Dan Cergol Jr. loves family atmosphere of demo derby

MEDINA — The Medina County Fair demolition derby has offered Dan Cergol Jr. the opportunity to make a lot of friends. It also has provided to be a valuable foundation for his hobbies and even his profession. The 20-year-old Medina native returned to the fairgrounds for the fourth time to compete in a black 1992 Chevrolet Lumina in the sub-compact class. "(I like) being able to wreck (stuff)," Cergol joked before getting more serious. "I like how close it brings everybody, because it's a team sport. It's good family time, and a lot of learning experiences come with it." Cergol first was attracted to the demolition derby watching his dad compete. That bonding time helped grow his passion for cars, and he knew it was time to take up the hobby at 16 years old. The 2020 Medina County Career Center graduate had a solid first run and has been hooked since. "My dad (Dan Cergol Sr.) did it, and my buddy's dad did it when I was younger," he said. "I got into it in 2016 and wound up taking second place my first year. "I just kind of took off from there, and it's gotten more expensive." Cergol Sr. helped build a 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with a 427 small block engine. Cergol Jr. still has a lot of fun in "The Beast" when it's running, but they are currently working on getting it back into shape. Son also followed in his father's footsteps when it came to his career, with Cergol Jr. working as an auto technician for Liberty Ford in Brunswick. "My dad always worked on cars," Cergol Jr. said. "He's a self-taught and became a technician 15 years ago, so I grew up around cars. I came to love them and hate them at the same time, and that birthed my hobbies and career." Cergol Jr. competed as a part of Team D.D.K., along with fellow drivers Andrew McGuire and Brandon Webb and a crew of 20-30 other friends who help work on the cars off and on from February through May. Getting the vehicles ready takes up most of the group's free time, and that was especially true last year while building two new cars and refurbishing two others. Last year's derby claimed one of those cars, which is why there was only three this year. "One of them didn't make it back," Cergol deadpanned. "We brought back what we could. "We travel all around (to get cars). One we got from Indiana, Kentucky and all around surrounding states. It's a blessing when it's within three hours." The team knows what they are looking for, specifically square-bodied Luminas. "We like running these because we like how they look, the frames, body styles and how to build them," Cergol said. "We run these mainly. I bought a '95 Monte Carlo. That's basically the same thing, just different body panels." The team's cars were fashioned with signs made by Black Flag Designs that featured a different number for each car — Cergol's was 912. GW Trees, Airgas and Precision Welding were also featured as sponsors. Cergol said the thrills from demolition derby are nothing like anything else he does in his spare time, including racing side-by-sides on trails with his friends, sport shooting and cornhole. Additionally, he constantly looks for ways to improve the derby cars. "It's really fun to see what we can do with these things and how far we can push them," Cergol, Jr. said. "The competitive aspect of it gives you an adrenaline rush that's like nothing else." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.