Teams

SF Hammerhead

Garage Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Driver: Jay O'Neil

Mechanics: Guy Bissay, Shelley Harrison, Kevin McCreight, Sydney O'Neil

Nuts and Bolts:

The members of Team SF Hammerhead were so traumatized by the movie “Jaws” that they aren’t only afraid of sharks – they don’t even like to go near the water. However, they love the company they work for, Hammerhead Construction, Inc., so on October 18 they’re going to face their fears (and their competitors) head on with a soapbox racer in the form of the company’s shark logo. Team captain and Hammerhead Construction founder Jay O’Neil says, “We’re a full-service contractor specializing in custom interiors, cabinetry, and furniture, so we’ve got a three-thousand-square-foot workshop in San Francisco where we can build our racer.” He continues, “I come from a woodworking family, and photography is my second passion, which I think contributes to my aesthetic sense of design and balance.” Then, laughing, he adds, “Still, we’re good at making things look beautiful, not fast. I don’t think there’s a chance we’re going to win!”

Team member Sydney O’Neil vigorously disputes that assertion. At eight years old, she’s got a youthful optimism that keeps her dad Jay and their other teammates (carpenters Guy Bissay and Kevin McCreight, as well as Sydney’s mom Shelley Harrison, who handles marketing) fired up; even when trying to create a sea creature – that blows bubbles out of its behind! – from tricky materials like fiberglass. “Sydney provides our team spirit. She’s the coolest kid on earth,” Jay states proudly. Thanks to a third-grader, this is one team that won’t jump the shark.