Teams

KA-POW!

Garage Headquarters: Tallahasse, FL

Driver: Richard Robards

Mechanics: Andrew Dalesandro, David Jones III, Carole Robards, Mari Robards

Nuts and Bolts:

“For last year’s Red Bull Flugtag human-powered flying contest, my teammates and I constructed a 9-foot tall, 16-foot long, 7-foot wide rubber ducky in my living room,” recounts Richard Robards. “Once we finished assembly, it had to be dismantled into three sections to get it out the door.” Richard and his teammates Andrew Dalesandro, David Jones III, Carole Robards, and Mari Robards didn’t win any prizes at that competition, but they learned a lot about just how ridiculous a crowd-pleasing performance should be – and they’re determined to bring a spectacular amount of crazy to the course on Tenth Street with a soapbox entry they call “KA-POW!”

Most of the teammates are students in bachelor and graduate programs at Florida State University. (Mari, the exception, is just finishing up a degree at Tallahassee Community College, but even she is planning on attending FSU soon.) Yet, rather than taking the easy way out and choosing a school theme, they picked something less predictable: Batman. “The inspiration for the vehicle is the 1966 Batmobile, except ours will be put together with sticks, paper, and bat guano,” says Rich. “Soapbox is all about the freedom to express yourself while wearing a skintight spandex suit and spouting corny lines.” With a smile, he goes on, “I think we stand a very good chance of winning this event…or at least making fools of ourselves trying.” A grinning Carole, his wife, can’t resist adding, “Yeah, if we can get it out the door in the first place.”