HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: A passion for smashing

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By Riley Cole, West Delaware seniorMANCHESTER - Crashing and bashing with the best of them, Cody Hahesy participates in demolition derbies because “it's a place where you can wreck cars and not get in trouble.”Hahesy, who graduated from West Delaware High School this spring, has competed in more than 12 derbies since 2009 and is thankful for his dad and friends who have helped him along the way. West Delaware junior Drew Cole and graduates Matt Neuhaus and Kyle Sullivan help Hahesy prepare for derbies.Hahesy started participating in derbies by helping build cars when he was 10 years old.“I thought it would be fun to drive in them,” Hahesy said.Hahesy has experienced success over the years, too. He picked up and a win and Most Aggressive Driver in Blairstown, a second in Clayton County, a second and a third in Independence, and a second and Hardest Hitting car in Manchester.After he won the Blairstown derby, Hahesy received a check for $1,200.“It was a great feeling,” he said. “I bought new supplies for future derbies with the $1,200.”Being involved in numerous derbies, Hahesy has invested about $3,000-$4,000 for his derby car and derby entry fees, which usually are around $50.The risks Hahesy takes while getting behind the wheel in his demo car don't scare him because of his love of demolition derbies.“My car could start on fire, people could get mad or my teeth could get knocked out,” Hahesy said.While most of Hahesy's competitors are older than him, he doesn't care and won't back down from the challenge.“It's fun,” Hahesy said. “I usually do better than most of my competition.”This summer, Hahesy plans to compete in the Edgewood, Manchester, Independence and Blairstown derbies. He enjoys building his car, hitting other cars - and getting an adrenaline rush.“It's a hobby,” Hahesy said. “It's one of the funniest things I've done.”