Racers on your mark! The Red Bull Soap Box Derby is coming to San Francisco. This fall, the same people that brought the FlugTag races and the Red Bull Air Races to San Francisco are at it again with another ridiculous competition to bring out the crazy kid in all of us. On October 18th at Dolores Park 50 pit crews of 4 people each will square off and race down a giant hill in home-made soap box cars. Dangerous, maybe. Stupid, yes. Entertaining, you bet.

Since hitting the US market in 1997, Red Bull has grown to become so much more than just a company that makes a tasty vodka mixer. The worlds most dominant energy drink (with worldwide sales of $1 Billion in 2007) has also become synonymous with partying, DJ culture and crazy stunt events through a constant cutting edge marketing agenda. The company knows something (or everything) about keeping a brand cool and hip. Despite a myriad of competitors in the energy drink market, Red Bull has proven to be the only brand capable of sustained and international appeal, having planted itself firmly throughout Europe, the United States and a good deal of East and South East Asia.

While most major corporations would steer away from this kind of event due to liabilities and such, it seems perfectly in line with Red Bull marketing tactics. In fact, 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. The first Red Bull Soapbox Race was held in Brussels in 2000. This year's Red Bull Soapbox Races will visit Philadelphia on September 6, Cincinnati on October 4, San Francisco on October 18th and Denver on October 25.

The details
What: The first ever appearance of the Red Bull Soap Box Derby event in San Francisco.
Date: October 18th, 2008
Location: Dolores Park
Cost: Free
Rules: Teams will be judged on three criteria: speed, creativity and showmanship. All soapboxes must be human powered meaning no engines or external energy sources allowed. All vehicles must be less than six-feet wide, less than 20 feet in length and no more than seven feet from the ground.

Wanna participate? Applications are due by August 6th. Go to the red bull soap box race website to get the application.

More good stuff
Pics from past Soap Box Races
Derby video from Sarajevo