Destruction Derby

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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

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 a 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.

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.

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

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

Co-Starring

Featuring

Crew

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"
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