Demolition Man: Lemon Grove Firefighter Defends Derby Title

"Peachy."

That's how Joe Lavigne said he'd feel about winning the Firefighter Demo Derby for a second year in a row.

Driving a red station wagon and sporting a matching red jumpsuit, Lavigne, a firefighter with the Lemon Grove Fire Department, returned to Del Mar Arena on Saturday to defend his title as derby champ.

“It’s going to be stiff competition this year—a lot of good cars,” Lavigne said. “So it’s all about driving and surviving.”

The battle to the finish busted radiators, mangled metal and left some vehicles smoking.

Lavigne went up against cars entered by fire agencies from throughout the county in an annual competition that raises money for the Burn Institute. The event was part of the 21st Annual Fire Expo, sponsored this year by Farmers’ Insurance, and held at the San Diego County Fair.

Swarms of cheering fans filled the arena as firefighters from the Heartland Fire District, Viejas, Lakeside, San Miguel, Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, Bonita, National City, Coronado, Vista, Miramar, Escondido and San Diego fire departments, and Federal Fire and CAL FIRE, crashed their cars into each other during three heats to determine qualifiers for the final round.

“It’s going to be tough,” Lavigne said. “Whoever wins this year definitely deserves it.”

Lavigne competed in the third heat and made it through—but not unscathed. His pit crew made some quick repairs before he headed into the final.

Although Lavigne inflicted plenty of damage, in the last few minutes his car ended up jammed between two others. Ultimately, the Lakeside Fire Department won.

Lavigne’s mother, Anna, thought he looked a bit disappointed, but said her son likes participating in the Demo Derby because he grew up building and working with cars.

“It’s in his heart anyway,” she said.

After knocking around cars for about an hour, though, Levigne said he wasn’t disappointed with the loss—just sore.

The derby kicked off with a color guard and bagpipe unit, and a horse-drawn fire engine that raced around the dirt arena. Firefighters circulated through the crowd during the 90-minute event collecting money in a boot drive.