Teams

LOS SENORES CACAHUETES

Garage Headquarters: Long Island City, NY

Driver: James Gronek

Mechanics: Matt Edmundson, Todd Ryan, Scott West

Nuts and Bolts:

Only last year, Todd Ryan, James Gronek, Scott West, and Matt Edmundson were wide-eyed college students: having fun, expanding their horizons, and racking up debt at Tufts University. Now, Ryan works to develop renewable technologies at a company that designs hydrogen fuel cells. Gronek is employed at a noted architectural engineering firm. West spends his days being all scientific-like in a Berkeley laboratory. And, while he ponders how to top his thesis on economic and political development, Edmundson devours copious amounts of marshmallow Peeps. (Current personal best: 35 in eight minutes.)

Spread out from coast to coast, the four friends wax nostalgic for the camaraderie of rugby games, naked runs in the quad, and even that crappy old apartment they had back in Boston. So, for one glorious week in October, they'll try to recreate the magic. Gronek's brother has an apartment in St. Louis, where the quartet will crash as they build their racer, assemble their costumes, and practice an interpretive dance for the Red Bull Soapbox Race. Edmundson notes, "As Los Señores Cacahuete – the Mr. Peanuts – we look forward to strutting our way into the hearts of the St. Louis Red Bull Faithful and burning some serious peanut shell as we fly down hills at moderately impressive speeds."