The SE Racing Ambulance!
If you race BMX in Arizona, you’ve very likely seen the incredible SE Racing Ambulance at races all over the state and at Nationals. We are blown away every time we see the ambulance, so we hit up 54-year-old Frank Rojas (aka @surflizard) from Surprise, AZ to learn more about this iconic BMX vehicle.
How long have you been riding SE bikes?
What are some of the SE bikes you’ve had over the years?
The bikes I have: 20 29” Big Rippers, one 27.5” PK Ripper, one 26” Fat Ripper (Ronald McDonald bike), one OM Flyer, one 29”+ Monster Quad, one 29”+ Monster Ripper, and my first 20” PK Ripper. Plus, my SE race bikes. My favorite bike is the 29” inch Santa Cruz Big Ripper.
How did you come up with the idea for the ambulance?
I had two choices. The first choice was a Ford Transit van, but I would see those everywhere. My second choice was an ambulance. I told myself that it would be different to pull up to a race in an ambulance that had SE on it. The SE Ambulance is a 2007 Ford E-450, which I found on Craigslist. It was hard to find.
Can you tell us about the process of designing and painting the ambulance?
The ambulance paint job is a vinyl wrap. Jomar Wraps helped design the ambulance. I wanted the it to look like the 2022 color scheme of the PK Ripper. The inside of the ambulance has a color TV, refrigerator, microwave, a couch that folds into a bed, sink with running water, and an outside shower. So, I basically converted the ambulance into an RV. I did all the interior modifications myself.
Was the process harder than you thought it would be?
The biggest hurdle I had was the system for the running water, but everything else was pretty easy.
What do you use the ambulance for?
I use the ambulance to travel all over Arizona for BMX racing: State Qualifiers, Gold Cup Qualifiers, local races, and all nationals that I will attend this year.
Do you get a lot of cool reactions from people when they see it?
Yes, when I pull up to a race, everybody will either take pictures with it or they want to look inside of it. I’ve even had local policemen and firemen pull me over so they can look at it, which I think it’s really cool.
What do you do for work?
I work for ATI Restoration as an emergency service coordinator. My job description is to show up to a fire and help the victims.
