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Since the 1950s, demolition derbies have offered cheap catharsis that embodies America's can-do spirit. A crumpled car sputtering along in the mud on its rims can bring a crowd of thousands to their feet. (See the 50 worst cars of all time.)
A lot of preparation goes into crashing these clunkers. Cars must be stripped of all extraneous parts, including windows; any reinforcements other than roll bars and contestants will get disqualified. Gas tanks must be moved to the backseat and covered with scrap metal. Doors must be welded or chained shut...
There's at least one group of people who are happy Cash for Clunkers is over: demolition-derby drivers. Participants in these events, in which drivers smash into one another until there's only one engine left running, don't enjoy the sight of old cars going out of commission...
Also contributing to the shortage of derby-worthy cars: scrap-metal prices have doubled in the past two years, leading more owners to sell their cars to the junkyard instead of to a local kid with demo-derby dreams. (Watch TIME's video "Demolition Derby: Crash for Clunkers.")
See the most exciting cars of 2010.