Teams

Icarus (Borne on Wings of Steel)

Garage Headquarters: Boulder, CO

Driver: Tom Gleason

Mechanics: Peter Clarke, Orion Esch, Becky Gleason, Ed Pomponi

Nuts and Bolts:

Peter Clarke, Orion Esch, Becky Gleason, Tom Gleason, and Ed Pomponi have all participated in the Boulder Kinetic Sculpture Challenge over the years – mostly on different teams. When they heard that the Red Bull Soapbox Race was coming to Denver, they decided to collaborate for a change. “Some of us participated at Red Bull Soap Box races in St. Louis and Seattle,” says Tom, who is team captain for the Red Rocks effort, “but for others of us, it will be our first foray into this storied contest.”

Their entry promises to be legendary – literally legendary. The group’s race-day presentation will recreate the Greek myth of Icarus (minus, they hope, the infamous crash). “The inspiration is the Kansas song ‘Icarus, Borne on Wings of Steel,’” Tom comments, going on to explain that the vehicle will be configured much like a street skeleton racer. He continues, “It is also inspired by the extreme sports that Red Bull supports through sponsorship of athletes and events.” With three engineers and a scientist on the team, the group hopes to produce one of the fastest racers in the lineup; and thanks to Becky’s phenomenal talent for costume design, they’ll also create a true spectacle for viewers. Revising the Kansas lyrics ever so slightly, Tom hums the team’s mantra, “Borne on wings of steel, we have so much to feel…”