But by the time the hundreds of fans in yellow reached the stadium after walking down Fannin Street, the born-and-bred Houstonian had become the star of the festivities.
“This guy was awesome,” said Ramiro Oliveira, one of the leaders of the march.
Pipkins, 35, picked up a ride Monday morning in the Texas Medical Center, and the riders asked him to drive them to a Smith Lands parking lot that was serving as the Brazilian fans meeting point.
They asked Pipkins if they could play one of the Brazilian fan songs on the ride, and Pipkins did so. Then when the pedicab arrived at the meeting point, the organizers had a question for him that would change his day.
“The band backed out, and so they were like, ‘Hey, do you mind playing the music?’ I said, ‘Yeah, for sure.’” Pipkins said. “The rest has been history.”
Pipkins became the focal point of the parade. Without a band to play the fight songs, Pipkins’ pedicab and his speaker became the heartbeat. Sometimes he went to the front of the fanwalk. Other times he was more in the middle surrounded by fans. Fan leaders would stand on the back of his pedicab directing chants and building the energy.
His impact wasn’t just for vibes either. Being able to have something everyone can gather around keeps things organized and moving.
“Definitely helped, especially at the beginning when people were getting there,” said Daniel Marques, a Brazilian currently living in Chicago. “It helps get everybody together quickly.”
Pipkins, who said he got paid $200 for the march, has done other events over his five years as a pedicab driver, including music festivals Bonnaroo and Hinterland. But he said nothing can compare to being the engine of the Brazilian fan march.
He added he is going to miss the World Cup when it is over.
“In a day and age when we experience so much hate online, just to see it first hand, the love that they have for one another and then how we just welcome them in the city,” Pipkins said. “It’s been an amazing experience.”