Battle of the Buses Revving up

If you rode the bus to school, there’s a good chance you wondered what it would be like to grab the wheel, shift into high gear, and put the pedal to the floor. But local laws, public safety, and the hassle of slowing down to make all the stops have a way of quickly chasing off those intrusive thoughts.

But the Battle of the Buses is returning to the Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond next week, and for those who still want to see a big ol’ student-delivery vehicle put through its paces, it’s about as close as you’re gonna get.

The annual event kicks off the season at the speedway in western Wisconsin. Every year, the track donates nine soon-to-be-retired buses to different area schools in the spring, and then teams of students and teachers spend several weeks working together to prep the vehicles for race day.

The buses are stripped down, with seats, windows, and paneling removed. Engines are tuned, roll cages are added, and then they are painted and decorated in preparation for the drop of the green flag.

The Battle of the Buses actually consists of several separate events. They turn “hot laps” on the track and then drag race to determine the fastest bus. And, later, there’s a demolition derby race to close out the night, where the buses swap paint and bend fenders, to see who built the sturdiest battlewagon. It’s up to a faculty member from each school to pilot their team’s hulking hotrod to the winner’s circle.

Tickets are only available at the gate on the day of the event. Overnight camping is available. The rainout date is on May 16th. To learn more about the event, visit the Cedar Lake Speedway’s website.

If you need a ride, maybe you can stand out on the corner and see if one of the competitors will pick you up on their way to the track. If they don’t stop, you’ll have to see if your mom will drive you there.