Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 2, 1995 TAG: 9503040010
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MATT CROWDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Carter and three other drivers each had taken a busload of people to the airport to greet Ronald Reagan when someone called out to the presidential candidate and introduced him to Carter.
"Oh, no. This couldn't be so; not another Jimmy Carter," Reagan quipped.
Last July, Carter, 45, was named the best bus driver in the state after winning the State of Virginia Roadeo at the State Fairgrounds in Richmond. Carter then went on to compete at the International Roadeo Competition in Boston, where he placed fifth out of about 120 contestants.
The Vinton man has been a public transit driver since 1974, when the area was served by the privately owned Roanoke City Lines. Six months after Carter started, the city took control of the line and renamed it Valley Metro.
"I've always enjoyed driving, and I like people, so I thought it would be interesting work," Carter said.
"When I first started, I didn't know if I'd last a year because I was nervous and didn't know if I'd be able to stay in the seat eight hours a day. But I've been doing it 20 years."
Carter, who drives the Williamson Road route, has driven more than 400,000 miles without a preventable accident over the last 16 years.
The roadeo was started in Virginia in 1981 by G.R. Simmons, a Valley Metro supervisor, and Charles Jordan, a driver. Jordan, a truck driver for three years, saw a truck roadeo, brought the idea to Valley Metro, and "it just snowballed from there," Jordan said.
Carter won the first five local roadeos. He was named Valley Metro's Operator of the Year in 1978, 1986, and 1987.
The first local roadeo featured city and school buses from the Roanoke area. Gradually, public transit systems from Lynchburg, Richmond, Blacksburg and the University of Virginia joined, and the contest became restricted to public transit. This year's roadeo will be held in Blacksburg and will have 11 regular participating transit companies.
There are about 120 participants in the international competition, which will be held in San Antonio this year. Each host city provides the buses for the competition. Carter said that all competitors are allowed to take a test run the day before the contest to get accustomed to the buses.
The state roadeo has two divisions, for 35- and 40-foot buses. Carter, who drives a 35-foot bus, also scored higher than the 40-foot bus drivers.
Carter's best finish at the international roadeo was fourth place in 1989, when he finished 13 points behind the leader. Drivers are scored on their ability to maneuver through a course with 11 obstacles, including pylons, a snake turn with 3-inch clearances on either side and a path lined with barrels.
As the driver proceeds through the path, the barrels get closer, starting with 6-inch clearances on either side and ending with 3 inches. The driver must maintain a speed of at least 20 mph all the way through the path. Each driver has seven minutes to complete the course. Drivers have one point deducted for each second over that time period.
Carter said that he has no big secret for success.
"Out here driving every day, I try to be defensive. You have to meet certain criteria to go to the roadeo, like safety and attendance."
There is a lot of luck involved in winning the competition at the international level because of the evenness of the field, according to Valley Metro General Manager Stephen Mancuso.
"If they held that contest seven days in a row, they'd have seven different winners. That's how tight the competition is," Mancuso said.
Carter's regular riders are quick to praise his driving ability.
"I think he's an excellent driver," said Gene Miller. "People pull out in front of him, people talk to him all the time. I don't see how he concentrates."
Miller rides the Williamson Road route every day from downtown to Crossroads Mall.
"Some people just have a natural knack for driving a bus around town or wherever," Mancuso said.
In December, Carter was honored by the city for his achievements. At the Dec. 12 City Council meeting, Mayor David Bowers proclaimed Dec. 14 as Jimmy Carter Day. Carter was presented with a paperweight from the city and given the day off.
by CNB