2009 School Bus Driver Roadeo Competition

The Annual School Bus Driver Roadeo Competition was held on Tuesday, April 14 at the State Fairground in Raleigh. Forty-Four drivers competed in the Roadeo. These drivers consisted of the top three winners out of each district in the county. The "Roadeo course" was set up and judged by Driver Education Program Specialists from DMV’s School Bus & Traffic Safety Section. The drivers were judged on how well they completed basic driving skills maneuvers such as Left Turns, Right Turns, Backing, Offset Alley, Diminishing Clearance, Serpentine and the Stop Line. This event of friendly competition and camaraderie proved to be very successful. The contestants who placed in the top ten were invited to compete in the regional Bus Roadeo competition on Thursday, April 30 at Nash Central High School in Rocky Mount, NC. The ten Wake County contestents were:

 2009 Wake County School Bus Roadeo Top Ten Winners

Anthony Ford-Enloe-First Place

Jeff Mellen-Fuquay-Second Place

Jimmy Perry-Southeast-Third Place

Stephanie High-Millbrook-Fourth Place

Kathy Bass-East Wake-Fifth Place

Charles Harris-East Wake-Sixth Place

James Ragland-Green Hope-Seventh Place

Billy McKemey-Fuquay-Eighth Place

Frances Wiggins-Knightdale-Ninth Place

Tonia Johnson-Apex-Tenth Place


Thirty-three contestants from surrounding counties competed in the Regional Bus Roadeo held at Nash Central High School. Wake County drivers took top honors at this event with four of our drivers placing in the top ten. The 3rd place winner was Jeff Mellen who was also the 2nd place winner in our Wake County Roadeo.  Billy McKemey finished with 4th place honors, Anthony Ford was 5th  place and Stephanie High finished in 7th place. These drivers along with the remainder of the top ten will be competing in the State Bus Roadeo competition on June 17 at the State Fairground in Raleigh. Congratulations to all the winners for a job well done!!

(Left to right) Anthony Ford, Enloe, 5th Place; Stephanie High, Millbrook, 7th Place; Jeff Mellen, Fuquay, 3rd Place; BIlly McKemey, Fuquay, 4th Place