Teams

Gape-Or-Die

Garage Headquarters: Boulder, CO

Driver: Preston Johnston

Mechanics: Oren Snyder, Billy Burke, Matt Dixon, Matt Smart

Nuts and Bolts:

Most, probably all, spectators at Red Bull Soapbox Race Denver will find themselves agape at the speed, daring, and shameless self-promotion exhibited by the entrants. But only those who have experienced the mountain area’s ski and snowboard lifestyle will understand what a “gaper” truly is. University of Colorado student Preston Johnston, captain of Team Gape-or-Die, explains, “This is a salute to all the jean-wearing yahoos, the high-strung moms in neon jumpsuits, and the yard sale specialists that make our snowboarding trips that much more enjoyable.”

Like their teammate Preston, fellow UC Boulder students Billy Burke, Mathew Dixon, Mathew Smart, and Oren Snydes are perpetually confused and amused by the weekend influx of gapers in the Rockies. In fact, for someone like Billy, who contends in snowskate competitions all over the United States, coming across a clueless greenhorn on a training run can be downright dangerous. But they’ve all managed to keep a sense of humor about these meandering menaces, so in the “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” spirit, on October 25 they’ll be doing their best gaper impersonations, kitted out in flashy jumpsuits lifted from their parents’ attics. “Just about everyone has had an experience with an out-of-town weekender that totes their life savings around the ski hill in their fanny pack,” Preston says. “I think we’ll leave everyone laughing.”