BULLRUN 2013: Big Easy Bandits planning big!
The crew from New Orleans is back, and this year second place is not an option. Ricky Chancey and Billy Blatty teamed up last year to form the Big Easy Bandits, an incredible fighting force determined to take home the Bullrun Navigator Award. They consistently positioned themselves in the top three every day and gave Team Hudson a run for their money. The Bandits, unsatisfied with a second-place Navigator Award belt, have already begun their strategic planning to take home the top prize this year.
For the 2012 rally, the Bandits’ theme was steath, bringing Billy’s 600hp Renntech Mercedes ML63. At first glance it’s no threat, but it proved to be the ultimate sleeper on the rally. Not only did Ricky and Billy keep up with the supercars on the rally, they actually had more power than most. But it’s not all about raw horespower on Bullrun. There’s a lot of strategy involved, and Ricky and Billy left nothing to chance. With a whole arsenal of navigational aides at their disposal, these best friends from New Orleans proved their navigational prowless. This year, the guys are going all out.
This is the deal, we are going to win the navigator award,” Ricky exclaimed. “The amount of planning and recon we did this year is leaps and bounds more than we’ve ever done in the past. They had better be ready to push the envelope farther than ever have before if they are even considering a spot on the podium. Seth and Tony’s new saying better be ‘First or 10 years in prison.”
This year’s strategy is going to be kept under wraps.
“No way I’m giving anyone insight into our strategies, you’ll just have to stay tuned and watch it unfold,” Ricky said. “In regards to the crazy Nola folk, I can’t explain how excited I am to have my brothers on the rally.”
Ricky and Billy have been known to pull off some dastardly pranks behind the scenes, and this year will be no different.
The guys have also been known to show up in some pretty crazy Bullrun constumes. At the start of the 2012 rally in Los Angeles, Ricky and Billy showed up to the start line in a motorbike with a side-cart wearing costumes from the movie: Talladega Nights.
“First and foremost, we will not neglect our due diligence to Bullrun,” Ricky said. “With all of our New Orleans buddies on the rally this year, it is gonna get messy. It is on page 165 of the Big Easy Bandits code of conduct manual, Section D : party harder, party later, and leave our fuckin’ mark. With that, Billy is in charge of wardrobe, and I’m dreading to see the Bullrun Launch uniforms. I just pray it’s not spandex. The world is not ready to see these legs wrapped in shiny, glittery woman pants.”
In regards to their Bullrun 2013 vehicle, Ricky and Billy have vowed to keep it under wraps until the rally begins on June 1st.
“We will not be divulging our ride this year, until the day of the rally,” Ricky said. “Thinking about a Smart Car. Nice try!”
We already have high expectations of Ricky and Billy. They’re more prepared than ever before and are ready to show the Bullrunners that New Orleans means business!
Q&A with Ricky Chancey:
1. How did you guys originally hear about Bullrun?
I originally heard about Bullrun from one of my best buddies Jared Reicke of Team Reicke in 2007. He had just won the 3rd-place Navigator Award that year. My other crazy buddies Dennis Collins and Richard Rawlings had just won 2nd. After attending the parties and watching it all unfold, I knew I had to get in on this shit.
2. Looking back at past Bullrun rallies you’ve done, what’s the experience that sticks out the most?
Well , If I had to pick the most memorable experience , it would be my first place win in 2010. Dudley Geigerman and I formed Team Luckynutz that year. We drove my BMW M6 and took home the coveted Navigator Award. It was one of the most overwhelming feelings of my life. Pulling on to the Freemont Strip in Vegas, to a couple thousand people lining the street was a lot to take in. But that is not overshadowed much by the first time Billy Blatty and I sat at the starting line for the launch of my first Bullrun ever in New York, 2009.
3. What are you looking forward to most on this year’s Bullrun?
Winning it! Billy Blatty and I returning to Bullrun to take our rightful place on the podium, is first and foremost. He and I together are EXTREMELY competitive, even with eachother at times. That’s the dynamic, we push each other to the limit, and we share the glory as best friends. Even though we took 2nd last year, we both still have our regrets and second guess some of our strategies last year that didn’t quite get us the top spot. Having Dudley Geigerman, Jared Reicke, Steve Tramuta, Bobby Courville and Shaun Viola on the road from Montreal to New Orleans this year will be insane!
4. Team Big Easy Bandits drove Billy’s Mercedes ML63 on last year’s rally. What have you chosen to drive on the 2013 rally?
We will not be divulging our ride this year, until the day of the rally. Thinking about a Smart Car. Nice try!
5. Obviously you guys will be gunning for the Navigator Award this year. How far are you willing to go to take home the belt and keep Seth and Tony at bay?
This is the deal, we are going to win the navigator award. The amount of planning and recon we did this year is leaps and bounds more than we’ve ever done in the past. They had better be ready to push the envelope farther than ever have before if they are even considering a spot on the podium. Seth and Tony’s new saying better be “First or 10 years in prison.”
6. Tell me a bit about the Big Easy Bandits, when it formed, who is involved, etc.
Billy and I came in Green in 2009, as Team Big EZ. We had no idea what to expect. I think both our heads were spinning just a bit. (Not sure if it was adrenaline, or because we partied to 6 am) . We arrived in New York with no plan, no ideas, just a mission to rip it, and leave our mark. We partied till 6am and hit the start line of my first Bullrun ever with an epic hangover. When Billy came back in 2011, we just wasn’t feeling the name. We wanted to pay homage to our city of New Orleans, “The Big Easy” and our devious nature dictated “the Bandit” tag. It felt right.
7. What do you consider to be your team’s strongest asset?
Our competitiveness and unrelenting desire to win is hands down our greatest asset. Although that has also blurred our vision and decision making at times.
8. What does your rally preparation involve for the rally? You went with the stealth approach last year, will you be preparing any differently this year? Stealth is not really possible when u wrapped in stickers and with a group of 50 high end sports cars. You’ll just have to wait and see.
9. If you could give the Bullrun newbies some advice, what would it be?
Bullrun newbiews I would say ” Move bitch, get out the way”… And – don’t push it. Take your time, be safe and just have fun.
10. Other than yourselves, who do you think are the best drivers on the rally? Why? Alright, so who are the best drivers?
Well, all being second to the Big Easy Bandits of course, I gotta give it to veteran Jared Reicke first. A lot of the Bullrunners of the last few years haven’t seen him on a rally yet. He’s extremely competitive, but calculated. I’ve seen first-hand the amount of planning he’s put into his previous years, and I believe its unmatched. I’ve taken some moves from his playbook in the past, and been the beneficiary of a couple of his strategies. Same goes for Richard Rawlings and Dennis Collins. Those guys are animals. They hold the coast to coast world record, tackled because of a Jared Reicke bet. Animals I tell you! Rest of my short list would be, Claus and Joaqiuin, Seth and Tony, Greg Roselli, to name a couple. Dudley and Bobby, absolutely crazy, my buddies, but at the end of the day, they are coming to win. And all the sleeper cells, we see you…Drake!
11. Last year the two of you showed up to the start line in LA driving an old motorbike with a side cart dressed as Ricky Bobby and Jean Girard. Do you have some outrageous costumes ready for this year? Will you be making a grand entrance?
First and foremost, we will not neglect our due diligence to Bullrun. With all of our New Orleans buddies on the rally this year, it is gonna get messy. It is on page 165 of the Big Easy Bandits code of conduct manual, Section D : party harder, party later, and leave our fuckin’ mark. With that, Billy is in charge of wardrobe, and I’m dreading to see the Bullrun Launch uniforms. I just pray it’s not spandex. The world is not ready to see these legs wrapped in shiny, glittery woman pants.
12. With the rally ending in New Orleans this year, does that give you an advantage?Can you give me some hints about some other tactics, alliances, etc. you’ll be employing this year?
No way I’m giving anyone insight into our strategies, you’ll just have to stay tuned and watch it unfold. In regards to the crazy Nola folk, I can’t explain how excited I am to have my brothers on the rally. BEWARE THE BANDITS!
