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Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Red Bull Soapbox Race Russia
The Soapbox Derby started in England in 1934. The event allows competing in small manmade, non-motorized cars.
Moscow’s Red Bull Soapbox Race means to get over a 500-meter asphalt race track with a slope of 10 % using offbeat wheels. At the same time, fairly stringent requirements are imposed to the soapbox cars. For example, they should not be equipped with any auxiliary devices — no pedals, gears or other engines are allowed to use to modify the vehicle. These cars move by the force of gravity--and by a push from someone who is not driving the car. They should be no more than 4 meters long and 2 meters wide. A gravity racer obtains its energy solely from the force of gravity (assuming no starting push is permitted), which is effectively equal for any combination of racer design and course.
Speed is the only thing uniting this reckless race to the classical disciplines, while here it is still important but certainly not the main condition to win. The scores for the uniqueness and the 30-second performance before the start are equally crucial for the team. Any Russian citizen aged 16 and older, regardless his or her driving license or experience, may participate in the competition. You should whip up a team of 5 people, think over its name, submit an online application form on www.redbull.ru/soapbox until April 15, and send the drawing of your future «car» to the organizers. Experience in similar sports and creative competition, Red Bull Flugtag (jumping into the water from a six-meter ramp on homemade flying objects) which was held in Moscow twice — in 2009 and 2011, showed that Russia is full of inventors, designers, and adventurers, and participants' imagination is unlimited. That’s why the soapbox race promises to be one of the highlights of the summer – both for participants and spectators. Look for more details on: www.redbull.ru/soapbox |
