Yellow Submarine at Abbey Road Thanks to Red Bull Soapbox Racers!

RED BULL SOAPBOX RACE SPEEDS INTO LONDON 2013

A Beatles-inspired soapbox is taken for a test drive on Abbey Road
in north west London ahead of the Red Bull Soapbox race at
Alexandra Palace, London on 14 July
c. David Parry/PA

Red Bull racers – soapboxes including a Beatles-inspired yellow submarine, a police car and a black cab are taken for a test drive ahead of the Red Bull Soapbox race at Alexandra Palace, London on 14 July.

The vehicles, which each took three weeks to make, are made from BMX bicycle wheels and a steel axel steering mechanism.  They were customized using plywood, polystyrene and cardboard tubing, and are covered in coloured plastazote foam with details such as number plates and other branding created using vinyl.

After a nine year hiatus, the world’s wackiest road race returns as 70 human-powered soapboxes compete for glory as part of a festival of music and fun.  Judges Rob Marshall (Chief Designer at Red Bull Racing), Danny MacAskill (street trials pro-rider) and Gee Atherton (multi-award winning mountain biker) will be assessing entries on their speed, creativity and crowd-pleasing antics.

Entrants include a loaf of bread baked to soapbox size, Elvis’ blue suede shoe and a Royal baby carriage.  

Off the race track, there will be plenty of action to keep the crowds entertained including face painting, ‘people pit-stops’ and live music from DJs. 

Chief Designer at Red Bull Racing, Rob Marshall; street trials pro-rider, Danny MacAskill and multi-award winning mountain biker, Gee Atherton; will be the judges on the day.

The course opens to the public at 10.30am, racing commences at 12pm and the winner is crowned at 4pm.

Red Bull Soapbox Race 2013 is at Alexandra Palace on Sunday 14 July to book your £5 ticket please visit www.redbullsoapboxrace.co.uk.

  

c. David Parry/PA

About Red Bull Soapbox Race 2013

Red Bull Soapbox Race is an international event in which amateur drivers’ race homemade soapbox vehicles. Each hand-made machine is fuelled by nothing but sheer courage, the force of gravity and perhaps a little Red Bull. This unique, non-motorised racing event challenges both experienced racers and amateurs alike to design and build outrageous soapbox dream machines and compete against the clock in a downhill race.

Red Bull has held more than forty soapbox races around the world since the first one in Brussels in the year 2000 – from Australia to South Africa, Helsinki to St. Louis, Jamaica to Italy. Over the years, vehicles have ranged from realistic replicas to anything the imagination can conjure up. Previous designs have included a piano, a rodeo clown, a massive corn on the cob, a jail cell and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Crowd capacity of event: 20,000 people

Soapboxes are judged on:

Speed

The fastest vehicles to cross the line will be looked upon favourably. This is a race after all!

Creativity

Personality is key, this is a fun event so finishing first doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll win

Showmanship

Racers will need to get the crowd on side, so a routine to show off their teams will help to pave the way to success