GLENDON - Derek Cote is a regular competitor at the Glendon Derby and Mudbogs. Lately, he’s been spending a lot of time in his shop, preparing and building his frame-up 75 Cadillac Coupe DeVille for the upcoming event on Aug. 10.
Derek's mother, Yvette Cote, drove in the first derby Glendon put on over 30 years ago, with a car she sponsored with her hair salon business.
Her husband, Dan Cote, thought it looked like fun, so he started driving in the derbies too - and it’s been a family tradition ever since.
“I only did Glendon, [Derek] has done a lot better than I have. I’d only build one truck a year. I was busy working and raising kids. One derby was enough for me,” says Dan. “I went cause everybody else was and I just wanted to get in there and have fun. If you won, you won. If you didn’t you didn’t.”
Derek explains that his love of derby goes way back.
“Not just my dad, but my uncles were into it too. I think I had three different uncles that also ran in the local show, so as a kid I’d go to the farm, strip vehicles, pull headlights off – stuff like that – things they could get a seven or eight-year-old to do. So that’s how I started getting into it.”
Derek participates in multiple derbies and works on vehicles year-round. In the winter, he strips vehicles down in preparation for the season ahead.
“I start to feel out what shows I’m going to run, and what vehicles, and kind of start playing the puzzle in my head – what's going to go? Is there going to be anything left of those? Do I have to start fresh?” explains Derek.
“I’m competitive by nature. I don’t need to win, it’s not about winning, but usually a switch flips when I’m trying to drive competitively, and then you just let it all out.”
Derek is quite the contender, winning ‘Most Aggressive’ in last year's Glendon derby.
“Last year, I actually got ‘Most Aggressive’ with the car where the door came off. I didn’t win, and again it’s not all about winning - but I like to think competitively.”
Derek’s large shop is filled with racks of parts, and equipment. His and his father's properties are lined with old pre-run vehicles that are a stockpile of memories and parts.
“For sure there’s adrenaline in the driving itself. But for the building, I actually enjoy making something cool like this - taking it from literally nothing to driving in a derby,” says Derek.
A strong community exists within the derby circuit, with many people helping, sharing parts, and lending a hand. Outside Derek’s shop, Blake Hassan’s truck was being welded by Mallory Boone.
“Mallory helps plate. She’s a welder by trade so she does a lot of his welding. We all have our buddies that help. For example, the last show that we were at, [my friends] were too rough to fix for the next heat, and the team that actually beat them needed steering parts, so they gave up a bunch of their steering parts to them. There’s a lot of sportsmanship at the derbies,” says Cote.
“If anything goes wrong, or someone gets hurt, everyone stops immediately and is there to help out,” adds Boone.
Derek’s wife, Chelsey Cote, is also a driver. She tells the story of how she “ate” her steering wheel and gave herself a fat lip before their wedding.
Chelsey is stepping away from derby business this year as she is pregnant, and the Cote’s are on a tricky schedule as Chelsey approaches her due date around the time of the derby.
“Yah, we have great timing,” says Derek, with a laugh.
The derby is a popular event in Glendon, and one of the largest derbies in Alberta.
“People love to see it. For Glendon, the week of the derby you can just feel it. Usually there's at least half a dozen in town that are running motors, getting ready. People are starting to go check out stuff and the vibe just increases as that week goes on. The town starts buzzing a little bit,” says Derek.
Derek and Boone speak highly of the parade that happens during the event, how the streets get packed with excited kids and drivers get to feel like celebrities.
Those who have been involved for many years are keen to help new people who want to get involved in the derby.
“It’s generational, that’s how these guys got started,” says Boone. “These guys are getting to the age where it’s their turn to teach and mentor now.”
For anyone who wants to get involved with the derby sport, Derek says he is happy to help people out and can be contacted through the Glendon Ag society.
