School Bus Transportation News at STN Media

Mechanic / Driver:
Winning the Three-Legged Race

By George F. Horne

February 5, 1999

Mechanic and Driver, both lovers of sports,
Attired in reflective bus-yellow shorts,
Were preparing to set out on a three-legged race.
They wondered aloud who might set the pace:

"The airplane flies high and fast overhead;
The train zooms on tracks placed straight on a bed;
The transit bus rattles down each city street;
The auto goes speeding, our stop arms to beat."

Then wonder gave way to the boasting routine.
"We pilots fly the most efficient machine."
"Our trains," bragged the engineer, "out-pull all of you.
For comfort, ride transit, the best you can do."

Mechanic and Driver, not to be out-done,
Decided to hold fast and wait for the run.
"We know," whispered Driver," against us they excel
In speed and in comfort- or so critics tell."

"That's right," said Mechanic, "but given this test:
In passenger safety, we've proved we're the best.
Let's go out and show them again on this day,
And quiet their boasting as we have our say."

The starting gun sounded; and out of the blocks
Some stumbled and fell, but not our two jocks.
Mechanic and Driver slipped into a groove,
As their legs responded, their run silky smooth.

Both knew that their school bus, an awkward machine,
Is structurally sound and easy to clean.
With Driver reporting the need for a check,
Mechanic takes action for fear of a wreck.

They learned long ago that teamwork is "in,"
And that, my dear sports fan, caused their team to win.
The secret to winning the three-legged race
Was not found in setting the initial fast pace.

Instead, Mechanic and Driver, from experience they knew
If they worked together, success would accrue.
One leg for each runner ran under its steam,
While one worked together: the three-legged team.

And so at the finish, as laurels were placed,
Stood Mechanic and Driver, who once more had raced.
The winners that really were crowned, I must say,
Were the millions of kids who ride school buses each day.