Red Bull Soapbox Race Explained

The Red Bull Soapbox Race is a soapbox race organised at least once a year by Red Bull. During its final phase, amateur pilots challenge one another by presenting hand-made, motor-less vehicles, judged for their aesthetics, their speed and their road-holding.[1] [2]

Originality and extravagance play an even greater role in the competition, as each team is also rated for their showmanship and the soapboxes are often inspired by folklore, pop culture, motorsport or everyday-life themes in their creation. Some notable examples include Pokémon-based karts and playful reproductions of the Popemobile or Mr. Bean's Mini.

First held in 2000, over a hundred races have been held in multiple countries around the world ever since, usually attracting thousands of spectators and putting the primary focus on the most creative and entertaining side of the competition.

History

The inaugural event was held in Brussels, Belgium on April 30, 2000.[3] Races have since been held all across the globe, covering every single continent at least once, excluding Antarctica. The first race out of Europe took place on March 30, 2003, when the sixth edition ever was organized in Auckland, New Zealand: this was also the first time the competition was held in Oceania. Auckland would later host the soapbox race thrice more, in 2005, 2013 and 2015.

In 2004, the event was organized in four different locations throughout the year, including Durban, South Africa. The same location was chosen one year later, and the country would host the competition twice more, in 2006 (in Johannesburg) and 2010 (in Soweto): South Africa still represents the only African nation to have held the soapbox race.

The competition first arrived in the United States in 2006, when a new edition was held in St. Louis, Missouri: ever since, a total number of seventeen races have taken place throughout the country.[4]

In 2007, the race spread to the Caribbean for the first time, as Jamaica hosted a new edition. Instead, South America first got to know the event better the following year, when two different editions were held in Brazil: the first one took place in Fortaleza on June 8, while the second one was organized in Porto Alegre on September 21.

The circle was completed between 2012 and 2013, with three subsequent editions being organized in the same number of Asian countries: China (although the event was hosted in Hong Kong), India and Oman.[5] [6]

Currently, 2017 has featured the largest amount of races, with eleven different races taking place between Europe, North America and Asia throughout the year.

2020 actually featured just one edition of the race, held in Santiago (the third time overall, as the Chilean capital city had already hosted the event in 2011 and 2016) on March 14.[7] The second one was set to be held in Florence, Italy on June 7, but was later cancelled due to the emergency measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Still, the seventy selected projects were rated and awarded by the deputed jury in October of the same year.[8] [9]

Rules

The vehicles must have steering and braking capability.[10] Teams are judged on both the time taken to complete the course, as well as creativity of their design and the showmanship of a performance at the start of the race, meaning the team with the fastest time is not necessarily the winner.[11]

Tracks

In the 2013 London race, one team reached a speed of over 50 kilometers per hour as they completed the 430 metre course in 33 seconds. The Cork 2004 course down St. Patrick's Hill was the steepest ever used at the time.[12]

Notable participants

In 2008, a team from Queen's University Belfast set the world speed record for soapbox racers at Stormont, Northern Ireland, at, before entering the vehicle, Equmes 1, into the Red Bull race at Stormont later in the week.[13] [14]

On May 16, 2015, the Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen, a Formula One driver for the Red Bull racing team himself, opened the race in Valkenburg, Netherlands, driving a soapbox that resembled his own STR10 racing car.[15]

On 7 July 2019, YouTubers Zac Alsop and Jamie Rawsthorne of "The Zac and Jay Show" entered the London race. In a Monopoly-themed run, they threw around £1,000 into the crowd.[16]

Races

No.DateCourse lengthLocationCityCountry/RegionEntrantsWinning TeamSpectatorsReference
130 April 2000Brussels Belgium
22 September 2001Roundhay ParkLeeds United Kingdom50The Garage[17]
32 September 2001800 metresKurpark OberlaaVienna Austria
417 March 2002Melbourne Australia
57 July 2002750 metresBern Switzerland62Kuhl Runnings
58 September 2002Bochum Germany
630 March 2003700 metresAuckland DomainAuckland New Zealand80Rubber Duck Racing44,000
72004 Netherlands
820 June 2004250 metresSt Patrick's HillCork Ireland63Crazy Babies
98 August 2004650 metresKnebworth ParkStevenage United Kingdom84Team Volvet Underground
1017 October 2004445 metresTrematon DriveDurban South Africa67Team Flower Power[18]
28 November 2004500+ metresLansdowne StreetMelbourne Australia94BBQ boys from Monbulk
2005La Rue d'OuchyLausanne Switzerland
2005445 metresTrematon DriveDurban South Africa70+
13 February 2005700 metresAuckland DomainAuckland New Zealand80Wanganui Motors Transformers
18 September 2005Schloss SolitudeStuttgart Germany
27 August 2006Jan Smuts AvenueJohannesburg South Africa54[19]
24 September 2006800 metresKurpark OberlaaVienna Austria
29 October 2006Forest ParkSt. Louis, Missouri United States42Fast Food
11 August 2007 Jamaica43The Pier One Team
30 September 20070.5milesFremont Avenue to North 36th StreetSeattle, Washington United StatesThe A-Team[20]
14 October 20070.25milesCollege HillProvidence, Rhode Island United States61The Good, The Bad and The Nerdy (The Numerator 2.0)[21]
11 May 2008Brussels Belgium
25 May 2008StormontBelfast United Kingdom47Ruddell Metals[22]
8 June 2008Praia do FuturoFortaleza, Ceará Brazil39Elvis não morreu, bebeu! (Elvis did not die, drank)
6 September 2008550 metresPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania United StatesDeuces Wild
7 September 2008West 4th AvenueVancouver, British Columbia Canada[23]
21 September 2008400 metresCorrida em Porto AlegrePorto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil29Gangster's Team Gravity Race
4 October 2008Eden ParkCincinnati, Ohio United States
25 October 2008Denver, Colorado United States
2924 May 2009MaçkaIstanbul Turkey60FIRE(Ateş)
29 August 200910th Street, Piedmont ParkAtlanta, Georgia United StatesYongsa Dragon Breath
6 September 2009Medellín Colombia
26 September 2009Grand Ave. and 5th StreetLos Angeles, California United StatesIronheade105000
18 October 2009Sacher ParkJerusalem Israel
24 September 2010Diepkloof Xtreme ParkSoweto South Africa50+Team Zooma
6 November 2010Fundidora ParkMonterrey Mexico
23 April 2011Estrada da RainhaBalneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina Brazil
23 May 2011Los Angeles, California United States38The Lakers Fanwagon115000[24]
12 June 2011Zagreb Croatia
3 July 2011Stockholm Sweden
18 July 2011450 metersHeroiv Krut AlleyKyiv Ukraine43
25 September 2011Parque Nacional de BogotáBogotá Colombia60
2 October 2011Praça do PapaBelo Horizonte, Minas Gerais BrazilRed Bule Uai Sô
21 November 2011Santiago Chile68
5 May 2012380 metresBrussels Belgium85Toga Max 2
10 June 201210th Street, Piedmont ParkAtlanta, Georgia United States36SweetWater[25]
1 July 2012500 metersKrylatskoye Cycling CircuitMoscow56
16 September 2012Austin RanchDallas, Texas United States40Oregon Trail[26]
23 September 2012Warsaw Poland80
15 October 2012To Shek Street, Ma On Shan Hong Kong China42
2 December 2012Mumbai India50
19 April 2013Muscat OmanNo Flying Yoke
14 July 2013500 metresHalde HohewardHerten Germany68Zeitrider55,000
14 July 2013420 metersAlexandra PalaceLondon United Kingdom70SpitPhya
25 August 2013NygårdsparkenBergen Norway
29 September 2013Taipei[27]
11 November 2013Buenos Aires Argentina
13 November 2013700 metresAuckland DomainAuckland New ZealandTeam Zoom Car Wash
6 April 2014400 metresLa HeraduraLima Peru52Rapidos Y Sabrosos25,000
15 June 2014Parc de Saint-CloudParis France50Rugbyman en Folie38,000
24 August 2014Yesler WaySeattle, Washington United States36Nickerson Street Saloon Rainier Rocket[28]
14 September 2014Amfiteatrul Mihai EminescuBucharest Romania51Vegetarian Cannibals
28 September 2014National Palace of CultureSofia Bulgaria
28 September 2014500 metresIFSC HeadquartersTurin Italy61Let There Be Rock40,000
16 May 2015350 metresCauberg HillValkenburg Netherlands60Der Mergelvreters[29]
12 July 2015420 metresAlexandra PalaceLondon United Kingdom65Absolute Radio Breakfast Club[30]
9929 August 20151500feetEden ParkCincinnati, Ohio United States41Peep My Ride[31]
1004 September 2015Amman Jordan
1016 September 2015300 metresBeaver Hall HillMontreal, Quebec Canada45The Docs (Back to the Future)25,000[32]
10220 September 2015400 metresGoiânia, Goiás Brazil
10324 October 20151200feetNorth Ave, Old Fourth WardAtlanta, Georgia United StatesThe Grease Monkeys[33]
31 October 2015MontjuïcBarcelona Spain70TMC Men in Blue
15 November 2015Centennial ParklandsSydney Australia
22 November 2015700 metresAuckland DomainAuckland New ZealandRed Stag Hunters
5 June 2016St Patrick's HillCork Ireland60+Jumbo Breakfast Roll[34]
3 September 2016Colina ParkCluj-Napoca Romania41[35]
11 September 2016AtizapánMexico City MexicoChile en Papas de Calabaza
9 October 2016Baku Azerbaijan
13 November 2016Buddh International CircuitNew Delhi India[36]
13 November 2016Hiranandani Gardens in PowaiMumbai India50The Other Guys
27 November 2016Calle Talinay, La ReinaSantiago ChileCalcetin Con Rombosman[37]
9 July 2017420 metresAlexandra PalaceLondon United KingdomBrooklands Special
19 August 2017TähtitorninvuoriHelsinki FinlandSaippua Loota Kustoms
19 August 2017350 metresCauberg HillValkenburg Netherlands70Return of the Legend
20 August 2017The Botanical GardenAarhus Denmark
20 August 2017Elysian ParkLos Angeles, California United States61OJ & the White Bronco
10 September 2017410 metresMont-de-l’EnclusKluisbergen Belgium70Pattyn Packing Lines
10 September 2017La Rue d'OuchyLausanne Switzerland70The Fly
24 September 2017Palace of the RepublicAlmaty Kazakhstan
1 October 2017Taipei
1 October 2017Parc de Saint-CloudParis France51Drum Team
23 October 2017Yomiuriland Amusement ParkTokyo Japan
24 June 2018500 metresVilla BorgheseRome Italy
8 September 20181500feetEden ParkCincinnati, Ohio United StatesThe Sea Cowboys (aka the Swamp Monkeys)
9 September 2018Parque Eduardo SétimoLisbon PortugalThe Mean Machine
7 July 2019420 metresAlexandra PalaceLondon United Kingdom59Gas Gas Gas20,000
15 September 2019Kaunas Lithuania60Klumpė
28 September 2019The Colony RanchThe Colony, Texas United StatesSkeeter Done, (aka the Swamp Monkeys)
6 October 2019YomiurilandKawasaki, Kanagawa JapanBanana Cabaret[38]
14 March 2020Zona de Pits, Parque MetropolitanoSantiago Chile30Los Pícaros del Bío Bío[39]
7 June 2020[40] 500 metresPiazzale MichelangeloFlorence Italy70
18 June 2022Iowa State CapitolDes Moines United States25,000[41]
26 June 2022Porta del PaeseCittà di San Marino San Marino40Car-ota Gag Garage
3 July 2022Alexandra PalaceLondon United Kingdom67Go Go Gadget Soapbox[42]
3 December 2022500+ metresLansdowne StreetMelbourne Australia30,000
22 October 2023Tbilisi GeorgiaTech Crush
3 March 2024Ramanaidu StudiosHyderabad IndiaThe Kranken Wagen
22 June 2024Queen Elizabeth Park RoadEdmonton Canada58Cock-A-Doodle Crew30,000[43]

Prizes

The winners of events receive a trophy and various special prizes, such as a trip to the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix to meet Carlos Sainz (Hong Kong 2012), a tour of the Red Bull Racing Factory, including a high performance track day (London 2013). In the 2007 Providence race, the three highest scoring teams received trips. A People's Choice Award is given to the audience's favorite team. Prize money is also awarded for the best charity entrant - 5,000 Euros for the 2004 Cork race.

Reception

In 2007, the New York Times contrasted the creative nature of the Red Bull series adult based teams, with the traditional American view of youth based Soap Box Derby, where design options were limited. Reviewing the 2008 Belfast race, the News Letter related that it was "difficult to describe the quality of the lunacy on display" Reviewing the 2011 Los Angeles event, the Huffington Post described it as a piece of rare wholesome fun so rare in modern-day big cities, and through the various designs and teams it showed creativity and the human spirit, with flashes of great ingenuity and engineering, and capturing the zeitgeist. Previewing the 2015 London event, the Evening Standard described the series as a global phenomenon. Reviewing the 2015 Montreal event, the Montreal Gazette said the races were not for the faint hearted, even for spectators.

External links

Notes and References

  1. 2018-01-15. Red Bull Soapbox Race, approda su Blaze la corsa più stravagante del mondo. 2021-04-05. Wired. it.
  2. Web site: La corsa di "auto" più pazza del mondo arriva a Firenze. 2021-04-05. FirenzeToday. it.
  3. Web site: PHOTOS: Soapbox Races Make An EPIC Comeback . Thomas . Emily . 2013-07-15 . . 2016-08-10.
  4. News: Soapbox Derby - Red Bull. Hughes. C. J.. 2007-10-21. The New York Times. 0362-4331. 2016-08-10.
  5. Web site: India's first Red Bull Soapbox Race wows crowds - ZigWheels. 2021-04-05. ZigWheels.com. en.
  6. Web site: Omanis lap up first Soapbox Race. 2021-04-05. gulfnews.com. en.
  7. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race 2020: Santiago de Chile. 2021-04-07. www.redbull.com.
  8. News: 2020-09-22. Red Bull Soap Box Race 2020. 2021-04-05.
  9. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race 2020. 2021-04-05. www.redbull.com.
  10. News: Red Bull Soapbox Race 2020 - Rules. 2021-04-05.
  11. Web site: Tally ho! Red Bull Soapbox Race 2015 headed for Alexandra Palace. 2015-05-12. en-GB. 2016-08-10.
  12. News: Soapbox drivers didn't need any stimulants to fly without wings. . en-US. 2016-08-10.
  13. Web site: SOAP BOX DERBY. - Free Online Library. www.thefreelibrary.com. 2016-08-10.
  14. News: Students break soapbox record. 2008-05-23. BBC. 2016-08-10.
  15. Web site: Formula 1 gossip: Button, Maldonado, Grosjean, Hakkinen. BBC Sport. 2016-08-10.
  16. Web site: 3 August 2019 . Alsop . Zac . We Crashed badly in the Redbull Soapbox London . YouTube . 3 October 2023.
  17. Web site: Soap stars box clever at park wacky races. www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 2016-08-10.
  18. Web site: No horse but Flower Power at box cart race. www.iol.co.za. 2018-03-18.
  19. Web site: Fast and frikken ridiculous in Soweto. 2018-03-18. TravelStart Blog.
  20. Web site: Red Bull energy drink brings iconic soapbox races to Fremont The Falcon. www.thefalcononline.com. 2016-08-10.
  21. Web site: Soapbox cars race down College Hill. Tyagi. Hari. 2007-10-15. Brown Daily Herald. 2016-08-10.
  22. Web site: Soapbox derby brings out the daring and the daft. www.newsletter.co.uk. 2016-08-10.
  23. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race Makes First-Ever Canadian Pit Stop in Vancouver. Newswire Canada. 2018-03-18.
  24. Web site: 2011 Red Bull Soapbox Race Designs -- Rate 'Em!. Political. Wyatt Closs. Strategist. Pop Culture. 2011-05-23. The Huffington Post. 2016-08-10. Observer. Keen. www.bigbowlofideas.com. Voracious Consumer.
  25. Web site: Red Bull Soap Box Derby features crazy cars, racers. EndPlay. 2012-06-11. en-US. 2016-08-10.
  26. Web site: Ridiculously-dressed teams, cars falling apart at Red Bull Soapbox Race. https://web.archive.org/web/20120920203835/http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/20120916-ridiculously-dressed-teams-cars-falling-apart-at-red-bull-soapbox-race.ece. dead. September 20, 2012. 2016-08-10.
  27. Web site: Soap box racers compete in Taiwan. .
  28. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race 2014. 25 August 2014. 2016-08-10.
  29. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race. South. Holland Expat Center. en-GB. 2016-08-10.
  30. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race: Dozens of home-made vehicles compete in madcap. 2015-07-12. en-GB. 2016-08-10.
  31. Web site: 'Peep My Ride' wins 99th Red Bull Soapbox Race in Eden Park. Harrington. Ashley. 2016-08-10.
  32. Web site: The meek will not inherit the world of Red Bull. 2015-09-07. en-US. 2016-08-10.
  33. Web site: Greenville team wins soapbox race. 2016-08-10.
  34. Web site: More than 30,000 spectators for Red Bull Soapbox spectacular. 2016-06-06. en-GB. 2016-08-10.
  35. Web site: Cluj: 41 de vehicule artizanale inedite în concursul Red Bull Soapbox Race. 2016-09-03.
  36. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race Returns To India On November 13th - ZigWheels. 2021-04-05. ZigWheels.com. en.
  37. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race Santiago 2016. 2016-11-27. en-GB. 2018-03-18.
  38. Web site: Red Bull Box Cart Race, 6th Oct, 2019 | Tokyo Cheapo.
  39. Web site: Bases de Promoción 'Red Bull Soapbox Race 2020'. 2021-04-07. www.redbull.com.
  40. The race was originally set to be held on June 7, 2020, but was later cancelled due to the emergency measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    On October 21 of the same year, the deputed jury gathered to select and rate seventy projects, awarding the best three ones.

  41. Web site: 2022-01-24 . Red Bull Soapbox Race Cruising Into Des Moines . 2023-06-06 . www.catchdesmoines.com . en-us.
  42. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race London 2022: Official Event Page . 2023-10-03 . redbull.com.
  43. https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/red-bull-soapbox-race-attracts-30-000-to-edmonton-river-valley-1.6938116

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