FAQ
Is soapbox racing illegal?
No. We called ourselves the "illegal" soapbox racing federation because the traditional or "All American Soapbox Derby" is very strict about how you race, who races and the cars construction, the cars are identical and come in a kit. We think this is antiseptic and boring like Nascar. Hence the illegal, not governed by the All American Soapbox Derby Rules moniker. Basically, "illegal" soapbox derby is for adults.
How does it work?
The Federation is ran by the group. Duties for each race are filled by volunteers, i.e. bring some cones, line marshal, website, make stickers etc. All decisions are ratified by the group, the courses are an invitation, meaning if you don't like a given course, then don't show up. There are no leaders, no shot callers, ideas are bounced around at the beginning of the race and any changes are made by a group decision. We all know the formula and stick to it so we can all have fun.
Can I join?
Yes you can. We want you to build a car and then if you can get into a nearby group that'd be best. If you're new we'd like to run a couple second heats to get a feel for things. New people tend to wreck and cause wrecks so we're only doing this for your own safety, we're not elitists, we just want to have fun and get on with things. A little hazing will not kill you. We have some loaner cars but it's ideal to build your own car so you know it and trust it, most loaner cars are old and beat. An easy way is to get an old go-kart and take the motor out, we'll tease you about it but it's a cheap way to get into the whole thing. The ethos is to build something cheaply and out of stuff you have laying around. Some people who will remain nameless have forgotten this. On another note keep in mind that this is very dangerous, deadly even. Do not for one second think that it's safe, it is not safe. We're not a bunch of bad-asses but we know the dangers involved and we want new people to be aware of them. We're not trying to scare you, but think the fastest scariest roller coaster you've ever been on times 10.
Can I come watch?
No. This is not a hipster event where to stand around and pose with the right t-shirt. Spectators are bad news, they have been the source of all of our problems. We don't want problems, we want to race and have fun, be safe to race another day. Crowd control is an issue. Either you're in a car, running support or you're still asleep when we're bombing hills. That is all.
What are the rules for the cars?
We get this one a lot. Everything you need to know is in the Rules section. And yes, they apply to everyone!!!!!
Can girls race too?
Yes. We currently have 3 women racers.
When do you race?
Times and locations are secret. No we can't tell you. Don't ask.
Can I sponsor a racer or races?
Since we shun the media and keep our race times and locations secret, it would be pointless.
Other Crap.
We want all the drivers to have some input in how things are done, we like to get some feedback now and again. New hills are always a good thing as ways to streamline the racing to make set up and races go smoother. If you have ideas or comments feel free to e-mail us. Before you do this however, please make sure you read the following guidelines to avoid unnecessary BS.
*Safety is a concern, keep in mind that some drivers and cars cannot perform in ultra-intense situations. Some of the courses are short and easy so everyone can have some fun, we're not trying to skirt death. Keep this in mind when looking for new hills and be sure to read the guidelines for course selection carefully. There are bigger, more death-defying hills out there, we want everyone to finish the races and go home intact, not on a stretcher, please keep this in mind.
*Wining is not important, being involved is, this is a group activity. Ideas and suggestions that are only to make certain kinds of cars and drivers win will be discarded out of hand. If you want the rules set up so you win every time, you need to re-think why you're doing this. Just replace the words "win" or "victory" with the word "snowman", that's how important it is.
* Just because you complain about things often does not mean you get your ideas pushed through. The squeaky wheel does not get the grease.
* Saying things like "Do this or I'll stop racing." will get no response, in fact we'll be glad you're gone. Ultimatums don't work.
* Personal conflicts are not ours to arbitrate. You can't like everyone you meet.
* Keep your ideas on group fun and longevity, put the group before the individual.
Some failed ideas:
Elimination Heats.
NO NO NO NO! What if we get one heat in and the cops come and break it up, what then? The other half of the racers get to just pack it up and not race? Flying start, all cars at once, not going to do it any other way. Don't ask.
Tell us where the course is.
No. Too much lurking around the course, the desire to run it before the race may be too strong. Out of town racers have no ability to see or test the course, it keeps things fair as they can be. We don't want to burn out the spots. We've spent countless hours locating these courses, we don't want to mess it up. Veteran drivers will know where the course is based upon the meet location, this does not mean we want people going up there, nor should you go around telling people where it's at. Our commando style set-up ensures that we get to get in at least one race, normally two. There are few really good hills in the valley that work for the large number of drivers we have. We'd have to do some serious out-of-town trekking to find new hills. Please follow the game plan.
Some suggestions that are now rules:
No more fast cars in the back.
The playing card line up is as fair as it gets, we made this change after many drivers expressed a desire for a better system.
Brake inspections:
After some close calls with failed brakes, drivers suggested that we do brake checks so we don't have cars going out of control.
We need a tech page so driver can get help building their cars.
We got that now, check it out.
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