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The event almost didn't happen this year. Brenda Wells, transportation coordinator for Lapeer Community Schools, said although the event has been hosted by North Branch Area Schools for the past two years, that district is in the midst of a construction project and was planning to cancel the competition.

"We decided if we were going to do this year, we were going to host it," said Wells. She added when she learned MAPT's Region 7, which includes school districts in Arenac, Bay, Midland, Saginaw and Tuscola counties didn't have a regional event planned this year, she decided to open up the Lapeer event to school bus drivers from throughout the Thumb.

Ê"The extra skills it gives drivers are phenomenal," she said. "It really hones your skills." Besides, she added, it's a lot of fun.

More than 40 bus drivers are expected to descend on Lapeer West High School parking lot May 17 for the Region 10 School Bus Driving Championship. The winners will move on to state and possibly national competitions. MAPT's Region 10 includes school districts in Lapeer, Genesee, Sanilac, Huron and St. Clair counties.

The competition includes a written exam and a obstacle course where drivers put 37-foot-long school buses through their paces in the West parking lot.

Although this year's competition will be on Lapeer's home ground, Wells said the Lapeer drivers won't have much of a home field advantage. She said since the parking lot at Lapeer West High School is used for school activities, all drivers will have only May 10 to practice the course before the May 17 event. She added that while all drivers will be using Lapeer Community Schools buses, local drivers will not be allowed to use the bus they normally drive.

The closest thing Lapeer will have to a home court advantage is that Lapeer uses buses with air brakes and for the past two years the regionals have been in North Branch where the buses are equipped with hydraulic brakes.

As with any competition, Lapeer has it's arch-rival. For bus drivers its Flint's Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools. "Most of time we out come ahead at the regionals, but they beat us at states," Wells said. "Apparently they work better under pressure."

Between the two schools, the Lapeer and Carman-Ainsworth drivers account for nearly half the drivers signed up for the event so far. In addition to competing for glory, they'll also be competing for more than $2,000 in prizes donated by Lapeer area businesses.

Leading off the Lapeer team will be Wells, who has brought back a pile of trophies to the Lapeer bus garage, including two Region 10 championships, and Christine Tucker, who has been competing nearly as long as Wells. Wells said she's also expecting outstanding performances from Cindy Mullen and Valerie Miklovich. According to Wells, Mullen has "worked really hard the last couple of yeas, but hasn't been quite there." She added Miklovich, who normally drives a special needs students bus, which is much shorter than a standard bus, is looking to break into a podium finish after several years of places fourth and fifth consistently.

The driving portion of the competition is slated to begin at 10 a.m. May 17 in the parking lot at Lapeer West High School.

Phil Foley may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8148 or pfoley@lapeergroup.com.