Destruction Derby

Destruction Derby
Episode #	312
Air Date	November 24, 1979
Briefing	?

Title screen

Brief Plot

Ponch and Jon go undercover at a raceway to probe a drug ring.

Plot

Ascot Park during a beautiful Saturday night.

During a beautiful Saturday night where the Fear 250 stock car race has just been announced, and the old male referee is actually carrying an official orange flag in his left while holding up green one with his right hand. While the crew member go around checking out the drivers, and Jon happens to be in the pit area getting ready to watch Ponch compete in the Fear 250 stock car race. While the crowd cheers for the drivers in the grand stands, and the old male referee starts using the green flag in order to let the drivers go in sections for the Fear 250 stock car race. When the crowd starts cheering for the drivers in the grand stands, and the old male referee starts using the green flag in order to let the drivers go in sections for the Fear 250 stock car race.

Ponch racing number 32 during the night race.

Ponch and Jon arriving at The Pit Stop.

As the show opens, Ponch is racing car 32 in the "Fear 250" stock car race. When one driver leaves the race, Jon peeks under his hood and takes a picture. Soon, Ponch has to end the race because of car trouble. When he meets up with Jon, we learn they're undercover. When they meet Sarge and Baricza, we learn they're looking for stolen cars. Getraer informs them they're now looking for drug smugglers. That night, they head over to "The Pit Stop" and order some beers.

Ponch having a conversation with Bones while working his car.

Ponch and Billy having their stupid rematch.

The next day, Ponch conducts repairs on the stock car while Jon gets coffee. That night, Ponch is out racing again and wins $100. The next day, Jon, Bonnie, Grossie, and Getraer all play handball. Later, one of the racer's car catches on fire during a race. As Ponch and Jon put it out, he's shouting "Let it burn!" That night, Jon's out racing.

Bones is going to plant a bomb inside Firebird that Chet had recently given Ponch and Jon.

Chet's Firebird blows up.

Later, at the bar, Ponch sweet talks a woman racer. When Jon shows up, he tells Ponch the car's transmission was stripped. Since they can't get another car, Ponch decides to enter the destruction derby. Soon, one of Ponch's ex-schoolmates recognizes Ponch and almost blows his cover. The next morning, Ponch, Jon, and Getraer discuss tactics while jogging. Later, Ponch and Jon head to the junkyard where a forklift is moving old cars. They find one of "Bones"'s old wrecks and some drugs inside.

Jon now flipping over Ponch's Firebird.

Ponch now upset at both Jon and Getraer over his Firebird being recently totaled.

Back at the track, a driver with a broken arm offers them his old car to use in the destruction derby. When Jon gets called to the office to for a phone call, two guys stick a bomb in his truck. They also stick one behind the seat in Ponch and Jon's stock car. After the commercial break, Ponch heads out in the destruction derby. While cheering on Ponch, Jon notices a wire on the ground. He opens his truck's hood and defuses the bomb. After not finding one in Ponch's car, he heads out into the derby. When Ponch ses his car, he heads over to it. Then he climbs out of the stock car and into his own. Seconds later, the stock car blows up. Trying to catch the guy that tried to kill them, Jon flips Ponch's car and totals it. In the end, Ponch decides it was worth it to save his life.

Guest Stars

• Billy Green Bush as Bones Bateman
• Angel Tompkins as Billy Wakefield/Laurie Windsor
• Dick DeCoit as Chet Lindford

Co-Starring

• Paul Linke as Grossman
• Brodie Greer as Baricza

Featuring

• Alan Beckwith as Junkyard Worker
• Anna Mathias as Rachel
• Cynthia Gable as Sarah
• Randi Oakes as Bonnie Clark

Crew

• Produced by: Cy Chermak
• Written by: Richard B. Mittleman
• Directed by: Gordon Hessler
• Executive Consultant: Rick Rosner
• Story Editors: William D. Gordon & James Doherty
• Associate Producer: Paul Rabwin
• Developed for television by: Paul Playdon
• Music by: Alan Silvestri
• Theme by: John Parker
• Music Supervisor: Harry V. Lojewski
• Director of Photography: Robert F. Sparks
• Art Director: Les Gobruegge
• Editor: William Neel
• Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow
• Assistant Director: Bob Jeffords
• 2nd Assistant Director: Paul Chavez
• Script Supervisor: Jack Gannon
• Set Decorator: W. Joseph Kroesser
• Production Consultant: Dave McDannel
• Technical Advisor: Bill Kuethen
• Stunt Co-ordinator: Paul Nuckles
• Rerecorded at: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
• Sound: Harlan Riggs, M. Curtis Price, C.A.S.
• Wardrobe Supervisor: Shelly Levine
• Makeup: Richard Cobos, S.M.A, Walter Schenck
• Hairdresser: Don Lynch
• Casting: Michael O. Hanks
• Locations by: Cinemobile Systems
• With Appreciation to Glen B. Craig, Commissioner California Highway Patrol
• Motorcycles Furnished by: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
• Automobiles furnished by: Ford Motor Company
• Filmed in METROCOLOR / Titles and Opticals MGM
• Rosner Television in association with MGM Television

Fun Facts

• This is the last time that a 1971 Pontiac Firebird Esprit is used as Ponch’s car.
• The Ascot Park demolition derby track was on South Vermont Avenue in Gardena. It closed at the end of 1990. The site is currently occupied by Insurance Auto Auctions. View in Google Maps

Mistakes

• The first races take place at night, yet the shots of Jon in the pits are obviously filmed in daylight.
• Ponch's first two races a supposed to take place on different nights, but the position of the cars/RVs in the car park that can be seen in the background are identical in both.
• During the demolition derby at the end, the amount of damage on Ponch's green #40 car, especially the rear, keeps changing.

Preceded by: "The Watch Commander"

Destruction Derby 312

Followed by: "Second Chance"