Teams

Team Frank

Garage Headquarters: Van Nuys, CA

Driver: Robert Giddens

Mechanics: Pablo Luken, Gilda Giddens, Luis Zavaleta, Alex Placienta

Nuts and Bolts:

If someone made a movie about Team Frank, the voiceover for the trailer might go like this: “In a world where special effects artists race soapbox cars, only one man had the vision to design a racer so frightening, so powerful, so horrifying that other contenders hardly dared to leave their pits. (Background audio: “It’s alive! It’s alive!”) Be there on September 26, when Robert Giddens and a ragtag bunch of creative geniuses attempt to finesse the sleek streets of modern-day Los Angeles with a lumbering beast of a vehicle. They’ve built the soapbox car of their dreams…and of their competitors’ nightmares. Don’t miss it!”

Robert, his wife Gilda Giddens, and their buddies Pablo Luken and Luis Zavaleta became friends as teenagers, and since graduating high school they’ve managed to keep in touch despite the pressing commitments of families and careers. Robert has his own special makeup effects company based in Van Nuys (Sota FX), and Pablo is a special effects technician, while Gilda is a chef and Luis is a law student and musician. They entered the Red Bull Soapbox Race at the urging of Robert’s kids. For their skit, they’ll be using all their talents to bring Dr. Frankenstein, Igor, the Bride, and, of course, the Creature himself to life. “We’re going to rock this racer out to impress,” says Robert. With a grin, he adds, “We would like a big trophy.”