Teams

SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS

Garage Headquarters: Staten Island, NY

Driver: Steve Trotto

Mechanics: Eddie Boljonis, Eddie Trotto, Eddie Trotto Jr.

Nuts and Bolts:

"I would always bug my parents to let me enter the youth Soap Box Derby, and they responded with 'we'll get you a puppy instead,'" remembers Steve Trotto. "Twenty puppies later, I still never made it to Indianapolis!" The Staten Island resident has been compensating for the missed opportunity ever since, often dragging friends and family along for the experience. For example, Steve and his buddy Eddie Boljonis rescue, collect, and restore old cars – specimens so unusual that they're used in movies and commercials. The two are also members of the New York Polar Bears. On any given New Year's Day, you can find them plunging into the frigid waters off Coney Island wearing nothing but a Speedo.

Steve thinks that finally, with Red Bull Soapbox Race, he'll get to live his childhood dream. Besides drafting Eddie Boljonis for the effort, he has convinced a couple of professional mechanics, who just happen to be his brother Eddie and nephew Eddie Jr., to join the team. (Yes, that's three – count 'em, three – Eddies on this squad.) "It didn't take much persuading," Eddie Sr. confides. "Steve insisted that if we didn't compete in Red Bull Soap Box Race, we'd have to run with the bulls in Pamplona instead."