Teams

The Moose

Garage Headquarters: Yarmouth, ME

Driver: Carter Thomas

Mechanics: Andrew Jaspersohn, Will Thomas, Dave Harden

Nuts and Bolts:

Animal lovers should have a field day at the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Providence. There will be a “lobster” and a “beaver” and a “puffin,” and – thanks to a team from Maine – one magnificent monster called The Moose. “We wanted to do something that illustrated our kickass state’s kickass outdoor scene,” says Carter Thomas, the team’s driver. “We’re covering a metal frame with artificial fur, creating a sleek, powerful colossus.”

Carter, 23, and his brother Will Thomas, 26, were on the swim team at Bowdoin College, as was teammate Dave Harden, now a 27-year-old computer consultant. Today Carter is chief operating officer for MyRaceWorld.com, a social networking website for competitive athletes, while Will is executive director of Tri-Maine, which administers and supports events like the Tri-Maine triathlon race series. Will comments, “Carter has a penchant for cheating death by longboarding down hills that are entirely too steep,” while his brother retorts with, “Will has a penchant for doing everything faster then everyone else.” They both are quick to point out that Dave’s need for speed usually manifests itself in putting big engines in little Volkswagens, while their fourth teammate, Andrew Jaspersohn, 27, is a bartender who fuels the lot of them with a talent for making high-octane cocktails. “Essentially,” Carter says, “we're all really good at going fast.”

As for the name, call us "The Moose." Not even "Team The Moose"... just "The Moose".