Philipps Bus Leads Era of Figure 8 Bus Racing at Eve of Destruction

History of Bus Racing at the Eve of Destruction

The Eve of Destruction at the Wisconsin International Raceway has become known for its crazy figure 8 bus races. Fans come out annually to see school buses transformed into fierce racing vehicles that careen around the intersection figure 8 track. It's an event that brings excitement and lots of crashes!

Bus racing was first added to the Eve of Destruction lineup in the early 2000s. Some competitors were looking for a new challenge and began experimenting with the idea of racing full sized buses. The first buses were old school buses that had been taken out of service. Racers reinforced frames, stripped interiors, and upgraded engines to try to keep up with the smaller cars on the small track.

Early Days of Bus Crashes

Those early buses were known for spectacular crashes. Their size and weight made them unwieldy on the tight track. It wasn't uncommon for the buses to careen off course, scrape walls, and plow through intersections. But that was part of the appeal for drivers and fans.

The crashes were so dramatic that bus figures 8s quickly became a fan favorite event. While they couldn't sustain the high speeds of some of the smaller cars, they provided some of the biggest thrills and wildestcollisions. The Eve of Destruction is all about excitement, and the buses delivered.

Bus Figure 8 Rules and Specifications

Over the years, some basic rules and specifications have been developed for the bus figure 8 race:

• Buses must be full-sized vehicles, minimum 60 passenger
• No hybrid or alternative fuel buses due to fire concerns
• All glass except windshield must be removed
• Buses must have driver's side padding and intrusion plates
• Additional roll bars, fuel cells or other safety modifications may be required

These rules help set some standards for making the buses as safe as possible for drivers while still allowing for the wild excitement of crashes and collisions around the crossover intersection.

Philipps Bus Racing Team

One bus that has become a staple at the Eve of Destruction bus races is the #42 bus piloted by Travis Philipps. Philipps debuted his custom racing bus in 2008 and has been a fierce competitor ever since.

Philipps' Racing Background

Phillipps had been involved in auto racing for years before trying out the bus competition. He started out racing stock cars at local short tracks in the 1990s. Eventually he progressed to late models, trucks, and other divisions before taking a break from racing to start a family.

When he heard about the new bus racing division at the Eve of Destruction, his interest was piqued. The idea of racing a full-sized vehicle at high speeds appealed to his need for excitement. So Philipps bought an old bus, outfitted it for racing, and started learning how to control the beast around the tight oval track.

The First #42 Bus

That first #42 bus was an old front-engine model purchased from a local school district. Philipps stripped out the seats, reinforced the frame, and upgraded the engine and drivetrain components to handle the demands of racing conditions.

The bus debuted in 2008 to immediate excitement from fans. Its bright green color scheme and roaring V8 engine made the bus stand out from the crowd. While Philipps was still honing his skills as a bus racer, he quickly established himself as a competitor to watch.

Crashes and Championships

Over the next several years, the green #42 bus had its share of crashes and mechanical issues. But Philipps kept upgrading components and learning how to handle the long wheelbase around the tight track. His driving skills improved, and his bus became known as one of the fastest in the division.

In 2015 he cemented his reputation by winning his first of two consecutive bus figure 8 championships behind the wheel of the trusty green machine. The Philipps bus has become a fan favorite at the event both for its success and tendency to find crashes and collisions.

Future of Bus Racing

Bus figure 8 racing continues to be one of the most popular events every year at the Eve of Destruction. More drivers are converting full-sized buses into race vehicles to take on the challenges of the intersecting oval.

New Bus Builds

Many teams are following Philipps' lead and custom building their buses specifically for racing. While older, retired school buses were the norm early on, purpose-built racing buses are becoming more common.

Some use school bus bodies mounted to truck frames and beefed up suspension components to handle the rigors of collisions. Others opt for wild paint schemes and custom interiors stripped down to just the essentials for driving around the oval.

Increasing Competition

The fields of buses continue to grow each year, making the competition more intense. With more experienced bus racers joining the Eve of Destruction, securing a championship is getting harder.

But that means more spectacular crashes and tighter racing around the figure 8. Fans have come to expect buses lifting wheels, colliding with competitors, and even flipping end over end on occasion. And the drivers keep figuring out ways to push the limits.

Future Race Winners

Racers like Travis Philipps and his iconic green #42 bus have defined an era of early bus racing at the festival. But now a new generation is waiting in the wings looking to make their own mark at the Eve of Destruction.

The future championships are up for grabs to any drivers brave enough to harness 800+ horsepower engines into 60+ passenger vehicles and race them at high speeds around an intersection. The Eve of Destruction bus figure 8 races will no doubt continue producing crashes and champions for years to come.

FAQs

What kind of buses are used in the races?

Most teams use old retired school buses or transit buses, but purpose-built racing bus builds designed specifically for figure 8 competitions are becoming more common.

How dangerous is bus figure 8 racing?

With school buses weighing up to 26,000 pounds crashing at high speeds, bus figure 8 racing does involve serious dangers. Advanced safety modifications help protect drivers as much as possible.

How many buses race at one time?

The number varies for each Eve of Destruction event, but typically there are 8-12 buses entered into the field to compete in individual qualifying races and main events.

What kind of modifications are made to the buses?

Teams reinforce frames for strength, upgrade engines for more horsepower, remove excess weight, add safety drivers compartments, and customize steering and suspension parts to handle extreme racing conditions.