It started on a foggy morning in 1994 on the side of a volcano in San Francisco. Paul Zenk saw some wildly dressed folks standing along a roadway as the fog lifted. Sounding like a roll of thunder, Paul looked up in time to see “wheeled demons” rolling down the mountain road. The race was on, and the drivers were ruthless as they tried maneuvering their gravity-powered rolling death boxes along the route. It was a soap box derby, and Paul was hooked!
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In Portland, Oregon, the adults come out to play one day of the year. Paul organized the first Portland Adult Soap Box Derby Day in 1997. A ragtag group of men careened down Mt. Tabor in their “creations of death and destruction.” This year marks the quarter-centennial of the race. There are more participants, volunteers, and fans than ever before. The derby is 100% volunteer-run and is truly a community-wide event.
The event is held on the 3rd Sunday of August in Mt. Tabor Park, and safety for drivers and spectators is not guaranteed. The cars can reach speeds up to 50 mph. With 42 cars, the race heats can last most of the day. Entrants build their vehicles out of whatever crosses their creative minds.
The Soap Box Derby Course
Racers pull their gravity-powered to the top of the hill, where they wait in the pit area. The route down the mountain begins with a slightly curvy stretch through Hogan’s Pickle Corner. The cars race through a broad left curve before reaching the longest “almost” straight stretch of roadway. They pass through Blood Alley, picking up speed on their way to the Learning Curve.
We’re pretty sure they named it the Learning Curve because that’s where you learn if you ate the wrong thing for breakfast. The almost hairpin turn is lined with hay bales along the outer edge. If you live through the curve, you reach the homestretch and the finish line.
The Soap Box Derby Cars
We couldn’t find any reference to vehicle construction rules for the Portland Adult Soap Box Derby, but we’re sure they have some. The International Soap Box Derby rules are geared toward youth derby racing but offer a basic idea. The exterior designs are wildly hilarious.
If you think you’re seeing a “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” you probably are. Next is a fully loaded baked potato with a sour cream driver and passenger.
We’re unsure what these two vehicle designs might be other than minimalist. The guys on the trike brought live music, though, so it’s all good.
Inspired by the Flintstones and Little Shop of Horrors, these two cars win props for costuming.
If you can’t get enough of these car designs, check out some fantastic shoebox derby contenders on the official YouTube channel for the Portland Adult Soap Box Derby. You can see past derby cars in the collections of photographer Jason DeSomer on the derby website.
The next Portland Adult Soap Box Derby is scheduled for August 16, 2025. Please put it in your calendar now and watch the hilarity in person. You’ll find the best viewing on Blood Alley along both sides of the course. That is also where the vendors and food trucks set up, so you’ll have plenty to do before the race starts at 10 AM. Don’t be late.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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