Press Release: On September 7th, Red Bull Soapbox Race will be taking a road trip to Canada for the very first time, racing down Vancouver’s West 4th Avenue – from Vine to Burrard – bringing with it a wacky combination of speed and extreme silliness. Sixty teams will be selected to build and race outrageous human-powered soapboxes through a steep downhill track, racing against the clock in an all out battle to the finish line. But speed demons beware! Creativity is just as important as the nuts and bolts!

Red Bull Soapbox Vancouver is accepting applications now through July 4, 2008 (you’ve got exactly one week!). Drivers and their three crew members ready to hit the raceway can enter their ideas at www.redbullsoapbox.ca. Those selected to race will receive confirmation on or before July 10, 2008. The grand prize is pretty sweet y’all, so click on to find out what it is!

Rev Up Your Creativity

The road is wide open for imagination and creativity in this race. Previous entries have included everything from King Kong and a giant chicken to the Tooth Fairy and a Viking Ship. Teams are judged on three criteria: speed, creativity and showmanship. So while good tires, aerodynamics and a solid construction can get you to the startling line, you might not make it to the podium – the more outrageous your soapbox, the better!

Here are some tips from a soapbox expert to get you started:

1. When building a soapbox, make sure you use strong rubber for the tires. This allows for better traction and of course, speed!

2. Weight distribution, in terms of maneuverability is important to consider when building. One participant for instance, had all the weight in the back of the car and this caused him to crash when taking a turn. Be sure to make the weighting equal – not one part heavier than the rest.

3. Think outside of the box when it comes to design. The crazier and more creative, the more you will get noticed and the more likely you will get chosen to participate (as only 60 teams are selected based on their sketches)

4. Be creative overall. The race is not about just who gets to the finish line first but also about costume and the skit

The Specs

And now, the rules of the road! All driving machines must be entirely human-powered – no stored power or external energy sources allowed. Secondly, all vehicles must be less than 1.82 m wide, under 6.1 m in length and no more than 2.13 m from the ground. And finally, all crafts must weigh no more than 79.83 kg (not including the driver!). All drivers must be at least 19 years of age, but engineers of all ages are welcome to help craft the speed machines.

The Reward for a Perfect Driving Record

Grand prize: An unforgettable Formula One experience including flight and hotel for all four team members

Second prize: The ultimate driving day/weekend at one of the most challenging courses in the country

Third prize: A day of go-kart racing for the entire team

“People’s Choice” award: Will evolve right up to the date of the event. Stay tuned!

Although this treadmarks the event’s first time in Canada, Red Bull has produced more than 35 Soapbox Races around the world – from Australia to South Africa, Helsinki to St. Louis, and Jamaica to Italy, with the first edition in Brussels in 2000.