Mayors wrestle some big steers in rodeo

Friday, April 11, 2003 | 9:16 a.m.

"Now hard left! Now hard right! Real hard!"

Few citizens give directions to their elected leaders in such a forceful manner, but bus driver trainer Craig Wright had Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson in the hot seat behind the wheel Thursday, and he barked the orders with authority.

Those instructions did not, in the end, give Gibson the advantage he needed. North Las Vegas residents now can boast that their mayor drives a large bus better than the mayor of their cross-town rivals.

Mike Montandon, North Las Vegas mayor, bested Gibson in a driving contest -- a "roadeo" -- at the Citizens Area Transit bus facility. Montandon had a home-field advantage since the bus facility is in his town, and he perhaps parlayed that into a 90-second advantage over Gibson.

And Montandon completed the challenge without knocking down many of the bright orange cones and large white barrels that outlined the tough course.

Montandon won in "every category with an objective measurement," said Dick Russell, safety manager with ATC, the company that manages the bus system for the Regional Transportation Commission. And the North Las Vegas mayor clocked in at a respectable 9 minutes, 36 seconds, versus Gibson's 11 minutes, 4 seconds.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who celebrated his primary election victory a day earlier, called in sick for the "mayors' challenge." Mesquite City Councilman Scott Fisher, who also is on the RTC board, stepped in and ran the course in a little over 11 minutes.

Russell said the professionals -- dozens of whom will vie for best roadeo driver Saturday -- come in under 7 minutes.

Gibson, however, said he focused on another goal as he navigated the tight turns, backing maneuvers and parking hazards on the course.

"The fact of the matter is: I didn't spill my water," Gibson said as he picked up a bottle tucked behind the driver's seat.

Both mayors said they came away from the challenge with a new appreciation for the tough job that the CAT bus drivers have.

"You have to have a lot of respect for those guys who do it day in and day out," Gibson said.

Montandon said the course and the job were "Much tougher than I thought."

"I'm going to leave it to the professionals, and cut them a wide swath, because that's a whole lot of steel," he said.

The roadeo is an annual competition sponsored by the American Public Transit Association that brings together drivers and mechanics from all over the country. Last year's national competition was in Las Vegas, and it will be held later this year up Interstate 15 in Salt Lake City.

Rodney McMillan, a manager for bus company ATC, said nearly 100 bus drivers will compete for the local crown Saturday at the bus facility. Crews of maintenance workers also will compete.