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The History of Team Barking Chirp
Founded during the 2003 Indianapolis 500, Team Barking Chirp has evolved into one of the most potent and enthusiastic race teams to roam Speedway,Indiana, during the speedweeks surrounding the Indianapolis 500. To Understand the Team, You Must First Understand the Chirp Internationally known as the "Best Damn Team Without a Car," Team Barking Chirp has a long and storied history that finds its roots in the debauchery that accompanies the fine scholastic establishment that is known as UW-Zero in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The barking chirp component of Team Barking Chirp began in the Calhoun Beach Club, a small corner tavern in the heart of the famed Oshkosh main-street bar district. In late fall of 1999, then-current UW-Zero student The Captain and town vagrant Jessie Reitmeyer began yelling at each other across the bar after consuming nine Long Island Ice Teas. As the intoxication levels increased, the yells morphed into a more animal like sound - the combination of a "bark" and "chirp." This barking chirp became a staple on the Oshkosh bar scene, and was usually followed by breaking furniture, lighting fires or projectile vomiting. The path of destruction caused by The Captain and Reitmeyer has taken years to restore, and many women and small animals still feel the fowl effects. As The Captain moved from his comfortable surroundings in Oshkosh to Milwaukee and then Chicago, the chirp was a staple of his late-night drinking antics. From Windsor, Canada, to Cancun Mexico, the chirp is understood in all languages and cultures as the universal sound for, "lets freakin' party!"
Humble Beginnings
It was a rash, last-minute decision to make the first trek to the Indianapolis 500 in the Spring of 2002. The "original five" members of The Captain, Joe Romanesko, Bob Hengel, Jeremy Konecke and Jeff Dub ventured into Speedway - and were soon intoxicated. As always, The Captain began to chirp to indicate that the party was getting started. Romanesko, Hengel,and Konecke were all new to the chirp and immediately took to it. That year was a wild at the race. The Captain's mullet and sunburn, Romanesko's trip to the Wayne County jail and trailer fire on the way home are only a few of the 86th Running highlights.
Gentlemen Start Your Engines
As the 87th Running of the Indianapolis 500 approached, The Captain, Dub and Hengel realized they needed to blow the show out of the water. That year included several new faces at the race, an RV in the Coke parking lot and the purchase of 33 cases of beer prior to leaving. It was on the first day in Speedway that the team was born. After consuming more than his weight in Natural Light, The Captain was chirping as usual. Alex Costanza, along for the race was "out of his mind" as well, and the two, after determining that the group was much more official than anyone else at the track, coined the group officially "Team Barking Chirp." As the license plate on the RV soon read, the team's status was immediately elevated. As the team moves into its fourth year going to the race, it has expanded significantly. Dedicated team member duties, a full branding and PR campaign, development of Team Barking Chirp.com, several new members, an official process to become a member, and branching out into other forms of racing and drinking are just a few of our most recent activities. Team Barking Chirp is truly the "Best Damn Team Without a Car" and continues to work closer to having a full Indy car sponsorship and living and breeding in Speedway, Indiana.
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