Vice exits early in VIP Demolition Derby

Fallbrook resident Bob Vice returned to the VIP Demolition Derby at the San Diego County Fair, although his car was disabled early and he did not place.

The June 30 demolition derby was the first for Vice since he won the 2005 VIP Demolition Derby. “I didn’t fare as well,” he said.

“Took a pretty good hit and I could hear the drive shaft. When it snapped it hit the bottom of the floor,” Vice said.

WGAS Motorsports provides cars for the VIP Demolition Derby; the drivers claim specific vehicles on a first-come, first-claim basis. The sole Cadillac and both Thunderbirds were already taken by the time Vice arrived in search for a car, and he ended up with a Chrysler LeBaron. “It wasn’t a very big car,” he said.

Although Vice didn’t have the sturdiest car, he praised WGAS Motorsports for converting the ten cars in the derby to crashworthy vehicles. “I thought they did a good job putting the cars together,” he said.

The battery and motor in Vice’s car were in good shape to begin the derby. “It ran strong,” he said.

Vice wasn’t as fortunate with the gear shift. “I had a hard time. Reverse was not where it was supposed to be on the indicator,” he said. “It was kind of hard to get it in reverse.”

That caused Vice to drive forward for much of his portion of the derby, in contrast to the desire to hit other cars with the back of one’s own car to protect the radiator.

“We had some pretty good hits early on,” he said. “Taking the hits are part of the fun.”

Vice spent 18 years as a 22nd District Agricultural Association director. The 5:00 p.m. VIP Demolition Derby consists of 22nd District Agricultural Association directors, former directors, and representatives from fair departments. The first VIP demolition derby took place in 1998, which was the only previous time Vice was eliminated early. He finished in the top five in

the 1999 and 2000 derbies before winning the 2001 and 2002 events.

Barry Nussbaum, the 22nd District Agricultural Association board president, finished second to Vice in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 Vice finished second to Nussbaum. Vice was unable to participate in the 2004 derby, back problems kept Nussbaum from competing in 2005, and a schedule conflict prevented Vice from running in the 2006 contest.

Vice had hoped for a rematch against Nussbaum in 2007, but Nussbaum’s daughter wanted to attend the Jonas Brothers concert at the fair which began at 5:30 so Nussbaum joined media representatives for the 1:00 p.m. VIP Demolition Derby.

Vice was disappointed that he wasn’t able to compete against Nussbaum. “We were trying to get this rubber match going,” Vice said.

Vice was consoled by the fact that he was competing. “It was fun to mix it up with the guys,” he said.

Not all of the competitors were guys. Cristina Portuguez, who represented the fair’s events department, was unable to avoid contact with Vice’s driver’s side door. “She whacked me pretty good in the door,” Vice said. “It bent the inside of the door down.”

Although the rules prohibit hitting the driver’s side door, Vice doesn’t fault Portuguez for not avoiding the area. “It’s a good thing to stay away from when you can, but you can’t always stay away from it,” Vice said.

Rob Phillips of the operations department provided the hit which took out Vice.

Although Vice had to watch the remaining drivers compete, he decided that watching rest of the derby from the track was preferable to watching the event from the stands. “It’s still a fun thing, and I always enjoy it,” he said.