What do a bowl of cereal, a dish ramen, a hamburger, a taco truck, and a hot dog have in common? They were all represented in soapbox karts taking part in the Red Bull Soapbox Race, which rolled through the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. Los Angeles has long been known as the city of cars. The car culture, low ridership, the Peterson Automotive Museum and the vast network of freeways are testament to this. Now it has to add this weird kart race to the list.
The Red Bull Soapbox Race is a race of non-motorized vehicles that make their way through a custom course consisting of turns, jumps and obstacles. Teams of up to five members presented a skit before passing their carts. Drivers had to overcome obstacles in hopes of logging the fastest time. Hundreds of spectators lined the route that began at Grand Avenue and ended at Broadway along 1st Street.
In addition to representing certain food groups in the race, other trains had movie themes such as “Dune” and “E.T.” One fire truck lost a tire but still made it to the end of the course. Another vehicle, which looked like a small boat with the prophetic name “Deep Trouble”, ran out of steam when it lost momentum and stopped on the way. The crowd laughed and cheered even louder as an OJ Simpson-themed white Ford Bronco drove through the streets of Los Angeles once again. It completed the course in 37 seconds, but could not avoid a near-perfect score from the judges. Forty teams from across the country were selected for the competition. Teams were judged on their creativity, performance skills and speed.
A Caravan car drives down 1st Street as hundreds of spectators attend the Red Bull Soapbox Race in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.
1. The Chicks and Ra-Men vehicle flies down First Street while competing in the Red Bull Soapbox Race. 2. Crusty Crew member Joshua Thomas walks into the crowd after the competition. 3. Cardboard cutouts of photographers are deployed along the route during the Red Bull Soapbox Race in downtown Los Angeles.
Albert Watts, Jr., wearing a squid hat, joined hundreds of spectators attending the Red Bull Soapbox Race, a race of non-motorized carts that make their way down a custom course in downtown Los Angeles.
The Operation Nut Job cart is pushed to begin its descent down 1st Street.
A member of the “ET”-themed cart performs before the teams head down 1st Street.
Las Vegas’ Seagrave 13 Fire Truck Kart has a wheel broken, but perseveres and continues to compete in the race.
