Teams

Tin Men

Garage Headquarters: Union City, CA

Driver: Rick Vincenti

Mechanics: Don Sanchez, Ben Rivera, Steve Price, Don Pratt

Nuts and Bolts:

You can almost hear it now: “We’re not in Union City anymore.” For folks happily based in that thriving Alameda County community, the metropolis of San Francisco, with its tourist crowds and pervasive fog, can sometimes feel like a world over the rainbow – even though it’s actually only 30 miles away. Don Pratt, Steve Price, Ben Rivera, Don Sanchez, and Rick Vincenti are no exception. So it’s only fitting that the five friends have chosen “The Wizard of Oz” as the theme for their Red Bull Soapbox Race entry. Instead of dropping in on Dolores Park from the sky, they’ll take the Bay Bridge – or maybe the Hayward span – and they’re sure to stop traffic with their Tin Man-shaped racer in tow.

Since these fellas are already well stocked with heart and brains and courage, they’ll be asking the wizardly judges for a spot on the podium. Of course, as the story goes, they’ll have to earn their rewards; but instead of fighting off winged monkeys to retrieve the broomstick of an evil witch, they’ll need to fight off other wickedly fast soapbox contenders to cross the finish line first. If they succeed, they’ll be cheered by thousands and earn fantastic prizes. But if they lose, it’s no big deal. They’ll always be loved in Union City. And in the immortal words of Dorothy, “There’s no place like home.”