Name: Eddie the bus driverHometown: Los Angeles, CA
Years driving the Red Bull bus: 2
Tell me a little about the Red Bull bus?
Eddie: It’s a 55 Scenicruiser and one out of 1001 made, but ours is totally pimped out!
How many people does the bus seat? How many people you have ever driven on the bus at one time?
Eddie: The bus seats 25 but we’ve had quite a few more people partying on it
What are some of the best amenities on the bus? Eddie: Where do I start! Four plasma tv's, six 12” subwoofers, 12 Polk audio 6x9's and 6000 watts of musical perfection! Plus, we have three coolers with all the Red Bull you can handle!
How much are you on the road? Tell me about the types of trips you make and some of the events you attend?
Eddie: We are on the road about two hundred days a year. We do a lot of different events like Red Bull Air Race, Red Bull Flugtags, Red Bull Soapboxes. We also do Nascar, Moto GP, almost all the motorsport stuff, skate tours, bmx tours. We basically do EVERYTHING from sampling missions to VIP guests!
What events to you enjoy watching most? Eddie: Well all of them really. I enjoy watching Red Bull Flugtag and Red Bull Soapbox because of the madness, Nascar and Moto GP for the speed, and Red Bull Stomping Ground for the sickness of the tricks. I mean it's so hard to name just one.
Who are some of your favorite athletes?
Eddie: Travis Pastrana, Ryan Sheckler, Shaun White, Lindsey Vonn, James Stewert, Reggie Bush, Aaron Colton, Terry Adams, JD Webb… I mean the list goes on and on. They’re all so cool!
Do you have nerves of steel to keep calm, cool and collected in traffic and city driving a party on wheels?
Eddie: Well I don’t know ‘bout steel, but it's not as easy as people think!
Do you ever have problems finding a place to park the Red Bull bus in big cities?
Eddie: Oh yea all the time! Especially in NY and Chicago.
How fast does the bus go?
Eddie: Well, she’s goverened down to 74 but she'll do a lot more.
How did you get this job? Did you see an ad in the paper and apply? What did you do before working with Red Bull?
Eddie: Actually it was a Craigslist ad. I got this job through a sub contractor for Red Bull. It was an ad in the paper…just said “driver wanted.” They called for an interview over the phone and asked what my "strengths" were. I answered standard issue answers like "I'm not afraid of hard work" and “I'm punctual," you know standard issue responses. Then she asked "what are your weaknessess?" I replied, "Chocolate and Oreos! You can get me to do anything you want for chocolate and Oreos.” The rest is history!
Does the bus make trips outside of the United States? What is the furthest trip you have made?
Eddie: Unfortunately we don’t go outside the U.S. Furthest trip is hard to say as my "trips" last up to three months at a time.
Has the bus ever had a breakdown with a full load of passengers? If so, how did you handle it.
Eddie: With passengers no, but when I’ve been on the road, yes.
Has there ever been a time you looked around and thought “oh boy, this might be a problem?”
Eddie: All the time, but nerves of steel, baby! Nerves of steel!
Where is the bus headed next? Any event you are particularly looking forward to?
Eddie: As of right now we are getting ready for Red Bull Flugtag Season. First Miami, then Minnesota, Philly and L.A. Actually I’m most looking forward to Flugtag in L.A. so I can be close to my family.
The next time you are at an event and you see the Red Bull bus parked, take a minute to give Eddie the Red Bull bus driver a high five. If he’s not on the job and you buy him a beer, you just might get an earful of some of the wildest stories in action sports. Keep rollin’ Eddie!
-Susan Linerode
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.