Teams

Fur Bus

Garage Headquarters: Atlanta, GA

Driver: Joel Darby

Mechanics: Trey Humphreys, Jobe Gruber, Tim Carlson, Boss Corban

Nuts and Bolts:

Entering an unconventional soapbox race was the most natural thing in the world for Team Fur Bus. Captain Joel Darby elucidates, “First, we all generally use soap. Second, we love boxes. And third, we all have an affinity towards wearing costumes to hide our insecurities.” Joel and his buddies Tim Carlson, Boss Corban, Jobe Gruber, and Trey Humphreys go way back. The hijinks started in high school (most of them were classmates at Walton High in East Cobb/Marietta) and only escalated in college. In the plush disguise of mascot costumes for Auburn University, Joel and Trey channeled their inner craziness and built a reputation for pleasing crowds (and acting the fool) that continues to this day. The pair took their skills to the pro level, serving as professional mascots in the NFL. Two other teammates currently raise the roof by working as DJs. One team member even pulled off the stellar prank of faking his own wedding.

The audacity gets most acute, however, when all five of these thirty-somethings get together – which happens on a regular basis thanks to the “Fur Bus.” In 1999, they bought an old school bus to drive to Las Vegas to celebrate New Year’s Eve (in costume, natch). Since that epic evening, the Fur Bus is just the way they roll, so they’re building a soapbox version for the race on August 29. “This is yet another fine opportunity to show off our racing skills, huge muscles, and fearless pursuit of the finish line, all while trying to pick up hot chicks who dig dudes with wheels,” Joel proclaims. Then he admits, “We’ve never built a soapbox before. We’ll be lucky to make it off the start line!”