Teams

Team Coffin-ator

Garage Headquarters: Canon City, CO

Driver: Ray Quick

Mechanics: Rick Martinez, Chad Gould, John Ivey

Nuts and Bolts:

The members of Team Coffin-ator have perhaps the largest age spread in Denver’s entire Red Bull Soapbox Race lineup: 18 to 64. And their driver is the oldest fellow in the bunch! But he’s definitely quick – Ray Quick, that is, a retired schoolteacher from Canon City, Colorado, who has often enjoyed participating in the Cripple Creek Gravity Race. Ray says, “When I heard about the Red Bull Soapbox contest, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to compete more than once a year.” He took part in the 2006 Red Bull Soapbox Race at St. Louis and made it to the third heat – even though he went across the finish line backwards all three times. Then he was accepted for the subsequent 2007 Soapbox event in Seattle, but didn’t have the funds to attend. With this year’s Denver race only about two hours from his home, Ray is more than ready to rumble.

Coming along for the ride will be two 58-year-old retirees, John Ivey and Rick Martinez, as well as the team’s young blood, 18-year-old Chad Gould. (“Chad is a grandchild of sorts,” Ray explains.) The intrepid driver figures that their coffin-shaped craft may have a chance of winning if he can overcome those old steering challenges from 2006. Ray chortles, “I hope to keep my front in front and my behind in the behind!”