Used Bus Showcase Archives
August 2008
Used Bus Showcase
"Kankakee County Fair's Extreme School Bus Figure 8"
On Wednesday, July 30th at 7p, the Kankakee County Fair hosted an "Extreme School Bus Figure 8" as its headlining event for opening night at the 44th annual Kankakee County Fair. Manager Tammy Focken says, "This is the second year for the Kankakee County Fair to include buses in our grandstand event line-up. In 2007, we received 4 buses, and we raced them around a 3/8-mile, high-banked, oval race track." This year, the Fair ordered 10 school buses from Midwest Transit Equipment to be used in the event, and rallied the community together to create a masterpiece, or masterpieces, if you will. Once the buses had been delivered, "the Kankakee Fair invited area schools to participate [...] by offering the buses to their athletic departments to paint their school colors/mascots/themes on them."
Prior to the event, the buses were paraded in front of the grandstand. Then, by applause, the audience selected the top three favorites. It was these three buses that were driven by professional demo drivers during the main event. At the end of the event, little was left of the buses. Thus, a consignment company was contacted to haul away the buses for scrap.
Midwest Transit Equipment and Used-Bus.com are proud to have had the opportunity on many occasions to work with the Kankakee County Fair in providing the vehicles needed to involve and entertain their community.
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July 2008
Used Bus Showcase
"Barrier Island Eco Tours' Monster Bus"
Barrier Island Eco-Tours of Carolla, NC have developed a fun, new way to transport their customers: a four-wheel drive, off-road monster bus. Bill Clayton, owner of the monster bus, describes how he came up with the idea: "The idea for my monster tour bus came about as I was watching a program on National Geographic. They were doing tours in big buses in Alaska. So, I applied the same concept here in Carova Beach."
Believe it or not, this monster bus was once an old, yellow school bus. It has since been completely overhauled and turned into a one-of-a-kind off-road vehicle. Barrier Island Eco-Tours is doing their part to help the environment: "By using mass transportation, we are trying to reduce the impact on the environment, while still allowing people to enjoy their stay at the beautiful Outer Banks," explains Clayton.
The monster bus serves many purposes, but it's main purpose is for tours: "We show people all around Carova Beach. This allows them to see the many varieties of wildlife, such as the decendants of the wild Spanish mustangs, and many species of shore birds." While not sent out on tours, the monster bus is also used to shuttle visitors around Carova and neighboring cities. Clayton says, "The general public is absolutely in awe of our bus." And all of us at Midwest Transit agree: it's not hard to see why.
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April 2008
Used Bus Showcase
"Iroquois Valley Youth for Christ"
In the summer of 2003, Iroquois Valley Youth for Christ sought Used-Bus.com for a solution to their unique transportation needs. Their purchased bus is being put to (very) good use in the Illinois counties of Iroquois, Kankakee and Will, and in the Indiana counties of Newton, LaPorte and Porter.
When asked how the bus was used in their daily operations, the Iroquois Valley Youth for Christ office proudly sent a long list displaying their new bus's many purposes:
- transporting students for weekly Club 45 meetings
- day trips to mall, bowling, paintballing, rollerskating, ice skating
- overnight trips to Kalahari, WI, skiing in Michigan, youth conferences in Indiana and Illinois
- used for work days during Prairie States camp, junior high week
- churches have borrowed it for youth retreats, taking an adult group to concerts, taking a house tour around town
- picking up kids for church on Sunday morning
- transporting flood victims staying at shelters to and from showers
Midwest Transit Equipment and Used-Bus.com are proud to have had the opportunity to work with the Iroquois Valley Youth for Christ in providing the vehicle they needed to fulfill their ultimate goal of reaching out to the community.
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March 2008
Used Bus Showcase
"Streamline's Tourist Bus"
Once again, Streamline, a company located in the Netherlands, has purchased used buses from Used-Bus.com and has created a masterpiece. This time, the goal at hand was to create tourist buses for Amsterdam. While keeping with the standard red color recognized by locals as signifying a tourist bus, some changes to the original concept had to be made.
Renate de Jonge, a Streamline employee, explains the reasoning behind the change from the well-known double decker design: "Due to the cables of the tramcars in Amsterdam, double deckers are too high. That’s why Streamline was approached to rebuild three American school buses as real tourist buses, complete with a glass ceiling, (which can be opened when the weather allows), a guide system based on GPS in fifteen languages and [painted] in the unmistakable bright red colour, which makes tourist buses recognizable as they are."
Midwest Transit Equipment and Used-Bus.com are proud to have had the opportunity on many occasions to work with Streamline in providing the vehicles needed to succeed in their design goals.
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February 2008
Used Bus Showcase
"Transportes Esperanza"
Since 1996, Carlos Amaya, owner of Transportes Esperanza in Escuintla, Guatemala, has purchased several used buses from Used-Bus.com. Founded in 1972, Transportes Esperanza uses its 15-unit fleet to provide public transportation, government transportation and charter services for both athletic teams and long field trips.
Amaya explains the process of obtaining a bus from Used-Bus.com internationally: “The journey starts in Kankakee, Ill., driving close to 4,000 miles through the US and Mexico. As soon as the school bus arrives in Guatemala, it gets a complete makeover starting with some major mechanical components.” One change includes replacing the automatic transmission to a 6-speed manual transmission with 2 split rear axles. “If the school bus is equipped with hydraulic brakes, this also gets converted into air brakes,” continues Amaya. Other additions include the installation of activity seats, overhead parcel racks, roof-mounted luggage racks, carpet flooring and a combination of 3-color exterior paint job with custom vinyl graphics.
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January 2008
Used Bus Showcase
"South Knox Schools Activity Bus"
In 2007, the South Knox School Corporation in Indiana purchased a used 2004 IC Corp. RE200 bus from Used-Bus.com. Seeking a comfortable bus with lots of options in order to be used both for athletic teams and long field trips, they hired Midwest Transit Equipment to transform their new pre-owned bus.
What once was a 78 passenger bus is now a 40 passenger activity bus. Additions to the bus include Freedman activity seats, ducted A/C with parcel racks, 2 skirt-mounted luggage boxes, new flooring and 3 color exterior paint job with custom vinyl graphics. “We had the bus painted in our school colors and added a picture of our mascot. The bus really encourages a sense of pride for our faculty, staff, students and community,” says Brad Case, South Knox School Superintendent.
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December 2007
Used Bus Showcase
"Streamline's Mobile Classroom (Designed for Forum, Institute of Multicultural Development)"
After purchasing a used bus from Used-Bus.com, Streamline, a promotion company located in The Netherlands, took on the mobile classroom project for Forum, Institute of Multicultural Development. From 2002 - 2004, Forum carried out a national information campaign entitled, "A Good Start. On the Way with the Preschool." "The idea was to enlarge the development opportunities for small children by informing both indigenous parents and parents in the lower ranks of society in an appealing way about the importance of the preschool and to encourage them to make use of the available facilities," explained Renate de Jonge of Streamline.
The proposed low-threshold method calls for a flexible, mobile and visible campaign. To this end, Streamline enabled an "authentic American school bus" and redesigned the interior to resemble that of a classroom. The bus has its own ingenious power supply to all facilities, such as computers with flatscreens, wireless Internet, TV, DVD, VCR, telephone, heating and air conditioning. During the first two years of campaigning, six consultants will work with municipalities daily to travel the country by bus seeking persons within the proposed demographic.
All of Streamline’s promotional buses are equipped with self-supporting electrical systems. Each bus usually has two or three large converters installed, which convert 12V DC up to 4000W AC with each converter using up to eight 270Ah gel batteries. “If requested, we also take care of kitchen facilities, including fresh water, audio stations, Internet workstations, heaters (diesel) and air conditioning,” says de Reus. This bus transforming promotional business is prospering: “Our promotional tours can last up to or for more than 4 years for the same client!” Exclaims de Reus.
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November 2007
Used Bus Showcase
"Streamline's SKATE Project"
After purchasing a used bus from Used-Bus.com, Streamline, a promotion company located in The Netherlands, took on the SKATE Project for EA and XBOX. EA approached Streamline and asked them to introduce SKATE to all “hardcore skaters” in The Netherlands. Marcel de Reus of Streamline says, “We planned a two-month tour along several playgrounds all over our (small) country starting Oct. 1st.”
With this project, the largest promotional event they will run is the European Skate Championships. Attending the event will be one of Streamline’s professional and enthusiastic drivers along with some professional skaters. The professional skaters will be giving “live demonstrations to the public on a real-life skate ramp.” De Reus adds, “On all of the events we do with our buses, the driver is always a main member of the crew.” He is responsible for the bus, the installed equipment and for creating a welcoming atmosphere for the guests.
All of Streamline’s promotional buses are equipped with self-supporting electrical systems. Each bus usually has two or three large converters installed, which convert 12V DC up to 4000W AC with each converter using up to eight 270Ah gel batteries. “If requested, we also take care of kitchen facilities, including fresh water, audio stations, Internet workstations, heaters (diesel) and air conditioning,” says de Reus. This bus transforming promotional business is prospering: “Our promotional tours can last up to or for more than 4 years for the same client!” Exclaims de Reus.
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October 2007
Used Bus Showcase
"Midwest Transit's Army Bus" Update
While Midwest Transit's "Army Bus" did not receive any top awards at this year's figure 8 bus derby races held on September 29th, the crew and spectators had a blast! Among those cheering on Midwest Transit Equipment were 77 adults, 27 children and a 9 person pit crew. Next year, David Barnes and Butch Vyhnanek will be back for victory!
Thinking ahead about next year's races? The rules are as follows:
1. Any 44/66 passenger bus may be used.
2. 4/5-point harness required
3. Helmet, goggles and gloves mandatory
4. Long sleeved clothing required, no sandals
5. No vulgar or obscene lettering
6. No driver's side compartment hits
7. No deliberate hits - This is a RACE not a demolition derby!
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September 2007
Used Bus Showcase
"Midwest Transit's Derby Bus: Army Bus"
The “Army Bus” is just one of the many theme buses David Barnes and Butch Vyhnanek (Midwest Transit Equipment employees) have created in hopes to win figure 8 derby races. Butch says, “We started racing figure 8 bus derbies in September 2002 […] we ran theme buses from a flat black bus with flames, jet fighter plane with wings (on sides and on the roof), General Lee bus, and now the Army bus.”
So what exactly does a bus derby entail? The race takes place on a 1/8th mile figure 8 track. The object of the race is to be the first to finish 20 laps. With several other buses aiming for the same goal, one can imagine that this is no easy task! But, in 5 years of racing, only two of Midwest Transit Equipment’s buses have been totaled.
Midwest Transit’s winnings include: one feature race win, five heat race wins and six best in show wins.
The Army Bus will “run its course” on September 29th at the Illiana Speedway. (Gates open at 4p. The first race begins at 7p.) You won’t want to miss this race! It’s going to be a good one, because according to Butch and David, “a little payback is due.”
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August 2007
Used Bus Showcase
"Sclafani Street Food"
In the fall of 2006, Frank Sclafani purchased a used school bus from Used-Bus.com to serve a unique purpose – a hot dog stand. Sclafani had his school bus shipped from Midwest Transit Equipment in Kankakee, Ill. to New Jersey where it was transformed into a restaurant. His hot dog stand is currently open for business in New Milford, CT. An article on "Sclafani Street Food" appeared in the local New Milford newspaper, News Times Live on June 27, 2007.
Midwest Transit Equipment, Inc. was honored to provide Frank Sclafani with a used bus at a great price to help him achieve his success in the restaurant business.
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July 2007
Used Bus Showcase
"German Party Bus"
This month's Used Bus Showcase features a party bus created for the group, Kaos Team Duelken, in Germany. This used bus is currently being used for weddings, carnivals, parades and birthday parties. The bus has also been used for travel, such as a trip to Austria for skiing.
Through searching the Internet, Kaos Team Duelken found Midwest Transit Equipment. About their findings, one of the owners, Claus Braunen, says, "[Midwest Transit Equipment] had the best price, good service and the perfect location."
Wanting to take a U.S. road trip from the midwest to the east coast, Claus and eight other members of the group flew from Germany to Chicago to pick up the bus personally. They then drove the bus through Wisconsin to New York City where the bus was shipped internationally to Germany.
Since receiving the bus, Kaos Team Duelken has turned this into quite the party mobile! The interior has been updated with 5000 watt speakers and rear cameras.
Midwest Transit Equipment, Inc. was honored to provide Kaos Team Duelken with a used bus at a great price to help them in all of their endeavors.
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June 2007
Used Bus Showcase
"The Jungle Medic"
This month's Used Bus Showcase features "The Jungle Medic" created for Bryan & Riechelle Buchanan. The Buchanan's are independent Christian missionaries working in the remote villages of Guatemala. Their goal is to bring the message of Jesus
Christ through medical and dental outreach programs.
They host short-term mission
teams of doctors; nurses; dentists; church
adult and youth teams; and
non-medical personnel who are willing to come and help those
less fortunate.
Midwest Transit Equipment, Inc. was honored to provide Bryan & Riechelle with a used bus at a great price to help them pursue their outreach ministry.
There are 1001 uses for a used bus.
E-mail us your ideas and pictures at
info@midwesttransit.com, and each month we will
showcase the most innovative use for a used bus on our web site.
