DENVER, CO -- 10/26/08 --
A record-breaking 25,000 spectators crowded Red
Rocks Park today for Red Bull Soapbox Race's Colorado debut, and more than
25,000 others arrived after the park had reached capacity. Forty-three
teams of colorful characters, from the likes of cross-dressing prom queens
to the Wicked Witch of the West, took to the track in hopes of
non-motorized, raceway glory.
Team Save Ferris snagged first place and the People's Choice Award with
their red hot Ferrari, which drove backwards in honor of the classic 80s
flick. "We were looking for something we all just clicked with, and that
was Ferris Bueller. We don't do anything half-a**, so we went all the
way," said team driver, Matt Fisher.
The random, but appreciated themes continued with another classic as The
Bonneville Record Holders wheeled a '34 coupe at breakneck speeds through
the winding chicanes and finally crashed into second place. And in a
touching tribute to Will Ferrell, Christopher Walken and the famous
"Saturday Night Live" skit, the third place team proved things are always
better with a little More Cowbell.
WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS THE HOFF WITH A MILKMAID?
The crafts careening down Trading Post Road didn't just speed, eat hay and
bale out. They also showed their creative flair and showmanship, both
critical to the overall team score. The esteemed panel of local
celebrities, including former Denver Broncos star Billy Thompson and Opie
Gone Bad front man Jake Schroeder. When asked if he would like to judge
again, Schroeder said, "Oh, hell yes!"
The judges whooped it up for crashes from a group of German scientists with
a thing for The Hoff, a fish taco on two wheels and a tipped cow with very
full udders. Even a Formula 1 racer couldn't navigate the rigors of the
road.
While Red Bull Soapbox Race celebrates the outrageous, brave and
over-the-top, teams still had to abide by rules of the road. All Red Bull
Soapbox Race cars had to be entirely human-powered -- no stored power or
external energy sources allowed. Secondly, all vehicles were required to be
less than six feet wide, less than 20 feet in length and no more than seven
feet from the ground. And finally, crafts could not weigh no more than 176
lbs (not including the driver).
The winning team nabbed an unforgettable NASCAR experience including flight
and hotel for all four team members. Second prize was the ultimate driving
day at one of the most challenging and exciting racetracks in the nation.
Third place received a day of high speed go kart racing.
THE FINISH LINE
Red Bull Soapbox Race Denver marks the end of a whirlwind national tour,
with stops made earlier this fall in Philadelphia, Cincinnati and San
Francisco. The first Red Bull Soapbox Race sped into Belgium in 2000, and
has since visited almost 30 countries including Austria, Sweden, Australia
and South Africa among others. The first Red Bull Soapbox Race in the U.S.
was held in 2006 in St. Louis, MO, and last year saw pit stops in Seattle
and Providence.
For all media inquiries about Red Bull Soapbox Race, please contact Andrea
Dorsett at 214-957-5990 or Andrea.Dorsett@us.redbull.com. For a selection
of high resolution photos from Red Bull Soapbox Race Denver and around the
world, check out www.redbull-photofiles.com. For video footage visit
http://vod.oceanwatch.com.
Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=861639
Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=861636
MEDIA INFORMATION:
Andrea Dorsett
Andrea.Dorsett@us.redbull.com
214-957-5990
