Quinnipiac Car Club’s car smash event enables students to relieve suppressed stress and anxiety during midterm week.
Local company Wheelers Towing brought “the same plan as usual,” supplying a totaled car for students to smash in the Hill Village Circle on campus from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
To participate in the event, students are charged $3 for five hits and $5 for 10, while spectators are free of charge. They are also supplied with safety gloves, goggles, and tools before taking the handle of the sledgehammer provided to smash.
While the club was formed on campus just four years ago, the numbers in attendance of the car smash have grown each year.
“We had 15 participants the first year we held the car smash,” said Zak Polak, senior mechanical engineering major and car club president. “Last year, during COVID-19, we had 63 participants.”
The fundraiser was held in North Lot in its first year but has moved to the Hill Village Circle for the past three years to attract more attention.
“The first year was 2018 and it was in the North Lot. Not a lot of foot traffic, not a lot of turnout,” Polak said. “The past three years, [the fundraiser] has been in Hill Village Circle, and literally everyone walking by wants to try it.”
Student Patrick Rymsza participating in the smash – photo by Alena DeLuise 
Student Patrick Rymsza participating in the smash – photo by Alena DeLuise 
Student Patrick Rymsza participating in the smash – photo by Alena DeLuise 
Student Patrick Rymsza participating in the smash – photo by Alena DeLuise 
Student Patrick Rymsza participating in the smash – photo by Alena DeLuise 
Student Patrick Rymsza participating in the smash – photo by Alena DeLuise
While COVID-19 halted many club activities last year, the car club was still able to hold its fundraiser with small adjustments.
“We had to sanitize the equipment every time someone used it,” said Polak. “We didn’t have any issues because it was outside anyway.”
Johnny Marquardt, senior media studies major and social media chair of the car club, was one of six car club members wearing a neon green “staff” shirt at the smash. Marquardt has been a part of the club since his freshman year alongside Polak.
“I think because of COVID-19 there wasn’t as much foot traffic, but we still made the most of it,” said Marquardt. “Now that everyone’s come back, we can see the numbers growing again.”
The club has helped QTHON, another popular fundraising event on campus, with their own car smash. Last year, the Phi Gamma Delta “FIJI” fraternity requested the club’s assistance with their own car smash fundraiser as well.
There are multiple meanings behind the popular campus event.
“[Smashing] is therapy,” said Marquardt. “You can get that midterm anger out for a good cause – breast cancer and helping out the car club.”
Members of the club stood around the car, contributed to its destruction, and recruited passing-by students to take part in the relief for a good cause.
“My plan was to get some stress out of me and just hit that thing as hard as I could,” said 4+1 communications student Sam Grauman, a senior philosophy and studio arts major. “I’ve been here every year they’ve held [the event.] It’s a lot of fun.”
“I hope to see new ideas and the club grow bigger than it ever has been,” said Marquardt.
Half of the proceeds go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, while the other half goes to supporting the QU Car Club.
For further questions about the event, contact Zachariah Polak: zachariah.polak@quinnipiac.edu
For 24/7 student resources and mental health support, call (203) 582-8742. Services include but are not limited to individual counseling, group therapy, urgent visit services, and same-day appointments.