Open To The World Combine Derby

1. Exhaust must exit vertically.

2. Original fuel source must be removed and new fuel source placed in grain hopper.

3. Battery must be placed above the front wheels. (updated 2026)

4. Rubber tires filled with air only. (No fluid or foam)

5. Combine must have some sort of head on it and remain on for the whole event. (updated 2026)

6. Platform must have reel, sickle and snouts removed.

7. Corn heads must have snouts and row units removed.

8. Combine ladder, unload auger, chopper, and all glass must be removed.

9. Drivers door must be welded or chained shut.

10. Cab can have any modifications to the cab for safety.

11. All seats are required to be bolted through the cab fame rails.

12. Head must have NO hydraulic action.

13. Head must be in a fixed position at 18-24 inches.

14. Must have cab or roll cage.

15. Single drive wheels only (no duals)

16. All equipment to be original manufactured with no reinforced parts or shields. Steering can be protected. (updated 2026)

17. No sharp points, anything questionable will have to be removed before show.

18. All rotating pulleys need to have guards over them. The purpose of this guard is to contain the pulley in the event it may come off or break apart.

19. Steel used for guards should be no more than 1/8” thick.

20. If using conveyor belt, it can be up to ½” thick.

21. Bracing on head will be allowed whithin reason but not in excess determed by the judge. (added 2026)

Requirements to Participate:

1. Drivers and pit crew are expected to attend drivers meeting when called.

2. Combines will be inspected by competition officials. Any infractions of rules must be fixed before machine will be cleared to compete.

3. ALL OFFICIAL’S DECISIONS ARE FINAL.

4. Seatbelt and helmet are required to be worn at all times combine is running.

5. Fire extinguisher must be securely mounted in the cab.

6. Combines may be decorated, painted, or offer advertising but must be in good taste. No profanity or obscene materials will be allowed.

7. Any flagrant violation by driver or pit crew, reckless driving, foul language, or action towards official or fan will result in disqualification and forfeit of prize money.

8. No alcoholic beverages or intoxication allowed in the pit before, during, or after the derby. Subject to disqualification, forfeit or prize money, and or arrest.

9. All drivers are responsible for removing their equipment after the derby is complete.

10. All combines and equipment must be removed from the fairgrounds no later than noon the following day. Payouts will not be made until combine and equipment is loaded and leaving the fairgrounds. It shall be the sole responsibility of the combine driver to remove combine and equipment from the grounds or make arrangements with the combine derby committee.

11. No direct hits to the drivers area.

12. Must stop machine upon lifting of another machine to eliminate tip overs.

13. If you are rolled over, the heat will be stopped and your combine will be placed back on its wheels.

14. During the competition, you must initiate contact within 2 minutes. If at any time, you cannot make contact within the time limit, you will be disqualified.

15. All motion to be halted upon signal from referees in case of fire, injury, or other emergencies.

16. No hits when opponent is out of bounds.

17. No pit racing.

18. No direct hits to another combines tires for first 5 minutes of the derby.

Questions? Call Casey Raber at 740-260-8434

1. Each driver must sign and fill out an entry blank at the registration desk the day of the show. Every driver must have his or her driver's license at the time of registration. NO EXCEPTIONS. Every driver must have his or her bus inspected at least one hour prior to show time or a $10.00 later fee is imposed. 

2. All drivers must supply their own bus, only one entry per person. Proof of ownership may be required for each bus entered. 

3. All persons must sign the release sheet and receive a pit pass to be permitted in the pot area or or track area. Drivers only receive a free pit pass upon registration; all other pit passes are $20.00.

4. The track or promoter reserves the right to approve or reject any and all entries. 

5. All buses will be inspected so be legal.

6. No drinking of alcoholic beverages on track, in the emergency vehicle area, or in the pit area. Any driver or pit person under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be immediately disqualified and removed from the grounds. 

7. Any driver or crew member disobeying the rules will cause his or her bus to be disqualified. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and will be grounds for disqualification and barring from future events. Drivers are responsible for the actions of their crew members.

8. All drivers must get out of their bus for inspection.

9. Buses will be reinspected on the track.

10. All drivers are expected to follow the official's flags. (Green means go. Red means stop)

11. All drivers will be permitted time to restart their bus if it has stalled or to initiate contact with another bus. Officials are permitted to break the driver's stick if too much time has passed. The derby will be composed of individual heats and one feature, with a grand prize going to the winner of the feature. Decisions of the officials are final! This includes builds and safety calls. ALL PROTESTS MUST BE MADE AT THE DRIVERS' MEETING. NO PROTESTS WILL BE CONSIDERED AFTER THE MEETING. NO EXCEPTIONS!

PREPARATION OF BUS

1. Remove all glass; windshield, side windows, rear windows, mirrors, head and tail lights. Rolling windows down is not permitted.

2. All buses must be free of debris. No junk tires, metal parts, broken glass, etc allowed in the bus. 

3. Buses must be STOCK, no adding steel or reinforcements. Bumpers must be stock, removed or trimmed for wheel clearance. 

4. Fuel tanks must be mounted between frame rails and inside of the driver compartment in the middle of the floor and in front of the rear axle. 

5. Batteries may be moved inside drivers compartment or left in the battery tray under the drivers side window. All buses must have neon colored paint outlining battery and electronics under the drivers door window area. No direct or intentional driver's door area hits will be allowed. 

6. Buses must be full-size school buses, not short, van style, or cab over style buses allowed. Buses must be a minimal  passenger or 200" wheelbase. No natural gas or propane powered buses permitted. Must be diesel or gasoline powered. 

Running

1. Safety belt, helmet, and goggles/safety glasses/face shields are REQUIRED. 

2. Pants of some kind NO SHORTS ALLOWED. YOU WILL NOT RUN IF YOU HAVE SHORTS ON.

3. Sand bagging and teaming will not be tolerated. 

4. Separation of stuck buses at the discretion of officials, (Safety reasons or last two buses running)

5. No deliberate head-on collisions and no deliberate driver side collisions.

6. The vehicle must have dependable brakes at all times and boundaries must be observed. 

7. No buses permitted in the competition area before the heat in which they are to participate.

8. A vehicle will be disqualified if the driver's electrical door comes open during the heat. 

9. One-minute limit is by the track officials for re-starts and making competitive contact with another bus. Hits must be aggressive. Simple contact within the time limit does not constitute combat and could be considered sandbagging. 

10. All buses are to be removed from the fairgrounds or racetrack following the show or they will become the property of the fairboard and will have them removed. 

11. No riding on the outside of the bus at any time due to insurance regulations.

12. Boundaries must be observed at all times. Any bus shoved or driven out of bounds or on/over a post or tire may be immediately disqualified if derby officials feel it is a safety hazard. 

13. One warning or driver's door hit. A second warning will result in disqualification. 

14. No hitting or collisions on the driver side of buses near the main power distribution box located under the driver window. This will be explained and marked on all buses for competitor clarification at events during drivers meetings.