The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CRASHEM-UP BASHEM-UP

WHEN I WAS A CHILD MY FRIENDS AND I WERE FASCINATED WITH
CARS. ESPECIALLY MATCH BOX CARS, AND THE CHEAP PLASTIC
ONES YOU COULD BUY AT WOOLWORTH'S AND GROCERY STORES. ONE
DAY MY FRIENDS AND I GREW BORED WITH JUST ROLLING THE
CARS AROUND AND RACING THEM ON THE GROUND. BOREDOM LED
TO AGITATION AND WE BEGAN TO RUN EACH OTHER'S CARS INTO
EACH OTHER, TRYING TO DESTROY THE OTHER'S CARS.
EVENTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT WE BEGAN TO ENJOY IT.
THAT WAS THE BIRTH OF CRASHEM-UP BANGEM-UP. I FORGOT
WHICH OF US THOUGHT OF THE NAME. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME,
WAS SORT OF THE SAME AS IN A DEMOLITION DERBY EXCEPT IT
WAS DONE WITH EITHER ALL SMALL MATCH BOX CARS, OR PLASTIC
CARS OUTSIDE ON CONCRETE. YOU FACE EACH OTHER ONE ON ONE
AND ROLL YOUR CARS AT EACH OTHER UNTIL ONE OF YOUR CARS
IS UNABLE TO ROLL, IS JUST BODILY DESTROYED. THE OWNER
OF THE REMAINING CAR WAS THE WINNER. KIDS FROM UP THE
STREET WOULD BRING THEIR CARS TO PLAY. WE ONLY ALLOWED
TEAMS OF 2 ON 2, NEVER MORE BECAUSE YOU COULD GET YOUR
CARS MIXED UP OR IT BECAME TOO COMPLICATED. BIG METAL
TONKA TRUCKS WERE NOT ALLOWED. WE GREW UP AND BEGAN TO
TIRE OF WASTING MONEY ON CARS, JUST TO DESTROY THEM, AND
OUTGREW THE GAME. I DON'T SEE KIDS PLAYING THIS GAME
ANYMORE BUT WHEN I WAS A KID I HONESTLY COULDN'T WAIT TO
GET MY CARS ON THE STREET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT