Teams

Team Trash

Garage Headquarters: Vallejo, CA

Driver: Derek Thew

Mechanics: Dan Garcia, Roc Gartrell, Sal Meija

Nuts and Bolts:

Dan Garcia, Roc Gartrell, Sal Meija, and Derek Thew talk a lot of trash, but that’s no reflection on the other Red Bull Soapbox Race contenders. “We’ve all worked for the same garbage company for a combined total of forty-five years and love it!” explains Derek, the team’s driver. “We’ve designed our soapbox to look like a hot-rodded garbage truck.” The four friends are all employed at a major waste management operation in the East Bay, and since their roles involve working in welding, fabrication, mechanics, and utilities, they’re well suited to building a vehicle. Derek says, “We actually started constructing it at work after business hours, but we got in trouble for spending too much time admiring it, so now we’ve moved it to the shop Dan has at his house.”

Because Team Trash is expecting a big following of family, friends, and colleagues to cheer them on at Dolores Park, they’re developing a skit appropriate for all ages, including music from popular movies and educational and fun facts about recycling. Derek comments, “This is a chance to have some good fun at our age – we’re in our thirties and forties -- and show off our skills as drivers, welders, and designers. We’re looking to have a great time, make a lot of noise, and meet some new friends, and we’re definitely in it to win it!”