Not currently logged in. [Login or Create an Account]

Stay Connected

Red Bull Soapbox Race Draws 111,000 Downtown

By Eric Richardson
Published: Saturday, September 26, 2009, at 07:38PM

Eric Richardson []

Sean Feeley pilots his Ironheade racer over the first jump enroute to a first-place finish and speeds of over 45 miles per hour.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Over 111,000 people made their way to 5th and Grand today to see 40 teams take on the hills, jumps and banking of the Red Bull Soapbox Race Los Angeles. Team Ironheade of San Francisco won first prize in a competition that featured all manner of absurd vehicles and some intense wrecks.

The winning racer was the 6th of 40 vehicles to travel down the narrow course, which featured two jumps, some chicane sections and a banked turn. The vehicle set the scoring standard early and never gave up its advantage.

Not all vehicles made it down the course. Many saw their demise in the turn, and several crashes left the soapbox vehicles laying on top of their drivers. Despite the carnage, all drivers walked away from their crashes.

Second place went to Team Ludicrous Speed!!!, piloted by Dark Helmet from the movie Spaceballs and hailing from North Pasadena. In third place, and also claiming the People's Choice award, was Team Speed Racer of Broomfield, CO.

Among the race's local college entrants, it was Cal State Northridge who fared best. While the entry, titled The Human Factor, didn't medal, it did complete the course. That was more than could be said for entries from either USC or UCLA.

Conversation

Molly Taylor on September 26, 2009, at 08:38PM – #1

what a fun afternoon and a great use of DTLA. Cool blog BTW just came across it.

Guest 1

D on September 26, 2009, at 09:49PM – #2

This was a great event and had a blast. it was great to see how many people used the metro system, from locals to tourists and plenty of people also went to Hollywood afterward s for the Italian festival. great day in LA!

Guest 2

Gregory Netterville on September 26, 2009, at 10:31PM – #3

The Human Factor got robbed of placing in the RedBull soapbox race thanks to favoritism shown on a 3rd place Speed Racer team who placed in their home-state. Huh? What? I smell a fix... [story continues at gregoryanetterville.wordpress.com]

Guest 3

Mohawk Matt on September 26, 2009, at 11:10PM – #4

Just another outrageous example of why downtown LA R O C K S.

I've Lived All Over The World. But I wouldn't Live Anywhere Else!

Guest 4

t. Gar on September 27, 2009, at 01:04AM – #5

Fun but only about 5 percent of people actually saw the race. It was a drag to see the back of people's heads. Those fortunate enough to occupy a tree caught the show. I suggest that bleachers be used on the side streets to allow everyone to enjoy the race, especially children who mostly saw the waistband of people's pants.

Guest 5

Jay on September 27, 2009, at 06:29AM – #6

Great event and excellent turn out. I really didn't care who won

Guest 6

Justin Sullivan on September 27, 2009, at 10:48AM – #7

This event was an incredible amount of fun. Good times, good energy from all of the participants and fans, and very limited police presence made for an almost perfect day.

Thanks for capturing some of the best moments of the day!

Guest 7

Taylor on September 27, 2009, at 11:49AM – #8

Hey I was part of the Team Miamoto...just wanted to say it was a blast! Alex was going for the banked curve, but a front wheel fell off!!

Guest 8

guest on September 27, 2009, at 12:03PM – #9

you're right on the money t. Gar...i'm fairly tall, but had to crane my neck out to get a glimpse of the soap boxes whizzing by....bleachers next time please...also because they didnt have viwing bleachers, lots of people stomped on plants and landscaping on most of the office buildings...even saw a broken tree branch when one guy tried to climb it...

Plan better next time Red Bull.

Ginny-Marie Case on September 27, 2009, at 01:51PM – #10

What do we have to do to get these guys back soon! 111,000 people! Hotels, Restaurants, Bars...Oh My! Hope Arda's and Weenez did well yesterday!

Guest 9

Ken H on September 27, 2009, at 02:37PM – #11

Eric, do we know if this is/could be an annual event?....it was so much fun...it would be great to have this as an annual event for downtown.

Guest 10

Allan on September 27, 2009, at 02:44PM – #12

Well, it looks like Red Bull moves the event around to different cities every year so it probably won't be coming back to LA any time soon. But the response was so incredible that maybe someone can step in and make this an annual event in conjunction with the Library Tower stair climb and maybe a couple of others.

Guest 5

Jay on September 27, 2009, at 03:27PM – #13

I must add though it was great to snap some photos next to the man, the myth, the legend, that is Eric Richardson!

Eric Richardson () on September 27, 2009, at 04:27PM – #14

Jay: I feel honored and maybe a little frightened...

Guest 1

D on September 27, 2009, at 05:50PM – #15

One more thing to point out. i twas amazing how many places were closed. How do they not understand the money making potential of a day like this? Famima was booming, as was roebeks, casa, really anything that was open was packed. Absentee ownership maybe?

Guest 11

1234 on September 28, 2009, at 08:40AM – #16

Could not see a THING. Finally got a spot where I could see the top of the ramp for the crashes but otherwise it was impossible. Felt bad for my friends kid who basically just stood there all day.

Guest 12

Erick L on September 28, 2009, at 09:49AM – #17

I hope they come back to LA next year. I had a great time at the event.

Guest 13

joe on September 28, 2009, at 10:27AM – #18

The Banana Hammock driver along with two other soap boxes represented CSULB

Guest 14

David Kennedy on September 28, 2009, at 11:49AM – #19

D's comment about the closed businesses is the most perceptive and a recurring issue. Too often downtown is treated as a blank slate pon which megaevents like this are plopped down without regard to the locals. Obviously, with a modicum of coordinatation from the event organizer, nearby downtown businesses could be made aware and take advantage. Those that were open had a field day.

My hunch is nothing of the sort happened. Which is not to blame the event organizer. I suspect the downtown business community is a fragmented group. Still, the truth is too many businesses downtown are still stuck in the early 90's and open only M-F/9-5. The opportunities are there. Getting local businesses to take advantage is the challenge.

Guest 1

D on September 28, 2009, at 12:55PM – #20

I almost felt bad for the deli owner across from Casa. if that guy was open, he would have made enough money for the whole month.

Eric Richardson () on September 28, 2009, at 01:12PM – #21

David: Given how many of the businesses on California Plaza don't open for Grand Performances (though certainly more do now than used to), I don't think it's an outreach issue. It's a mindset issue.

Guest 14

David Kennedy on September 28, 2009, at 01:28PM – #22

Yep, mindset it is. Too bad. Too many of these places are so hidebound in their behavior. I have a difficult time getting my head around businesses passing on the opportunity to generate income.

Christophe Serafino on September 28, 2009, at 01:58PM – #23

My photos are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos//sets//

Good times.

Jim Winstead on September 28, 2009, at 06:45PM – #24

some of the small businesses may have deliberately stayed closed because they simply can't handle crowds of that size. it's great to imagine that it means neatly-organized lines of people walking up and handing you money, it's an entirely different story when you realize it means someone might decide to go out your window because you wouldn't let them walk out with pockets full of shoplifted items.

i don't have a difficult time getting my head around the idea that some income isn't worth the cost or stress.

Guest 15

Ankur on September 29, 2009, at 06:10PM – #25

Anyone know what channel they are going to show the coverage on?

Missed most of it, because it was so hard to get a good spot out there to see anything.

Guest 16

nanorich on September 29, 2009, at 06:20PM – #26

http://www.redbullusa.com/cs/Satellite/en_US/Red-Bull-Home/

Here are the video highlights.

Eric Richardson () on September 29, 2009, at 06:36PM – #27

Ankur: The race is scheduled to air on Fox Sports on October 10 at roughly 6:45pm. It's after a hockey game, so that time's not exact.

Victor Franco Jr on September 29, 2009, at 10:56PM – #28

Eric, ! 110k? are those numbers official? Having a hard time believing that...if true, just shows how local news ignored a great story...crowd nips at the heels of the DooDah Parade...great photos, great event...

Eric Richardson () on September 30, 2009, at 06:47AM – #29

Victor: Red Bull says that's the number the Fire Department gave them, so it's as official as any number you're going to get.

Guest 17

Natalie DeJohn on October 01, 2009, at 06:07PM – #30

Oh yay! I was hoping to see pictures from this. I heard it was amazing. Downtown does rock.

Add Your Voice

In an effort to prevent spam, blogdowntown commenting requires that Javascript be enabled. Please check your browser settings and try again.

Stay Connected

blogdowntown: Home Page for the Downtown Click.

http://blogdowntown.com

Red Bull Soapbox Race Draws 111,000 Downtown

SHARE:

Related Stories:

February 02, 2011

September 21, 2009

July 15, 2009

Conversation

Molly Taylor on September 26, 2009, at 08:38PM – #1

D on September 26, 2009, at 09:49PM – #2

Gregory Netterville on September 26, 2009, at 10:31PM – #3

Mohawk Matt on September 26, 2009, at 11:10PM – #4

t. Gar on September 27, 2009, at 01:04AM – #5

Jay on September 27, 2009, at 06:29AM – #6

Justin Sullivan on September 27, 2009, at 10:48AM – #7

Taylor on September 27, 2009, at 11:49AM – #8

guest on September 27, 2009, at 12:03PM – #9

Ginny-Marie Case on September 27, 2009, at 01:51PM – #10

Ken H on September 27, 2009, at 02:37PM – #11

Allan on September 27, 2009, at 02:44PM – #12

Jay on September 27, 2009, at 03:27PM – #13

Eric Richardson () on September 27, 2009, at 04:27PM – #14

D on September 27, 2009, at 05:50PM – #15

1234 on September 28, 2009, at 08:40AM – #16

Erick L on September 28, 2009, at 09:49AM – #17

joe on September 28, 2009, at 10:27AM – #18

David Kennedy on September 28, 2009, at 11:49AM – #19

D on September 28, 2009, at 12:55PM – #20

Eric Richardson () on September 28, 2009, at 01:12PM – #21

David Kennedy on September 28, 2009, at 01:28PM – #22

Christophe Serafino on September 28, 2009, at 01:58PM – #23

Jim Winstead on September 28, 2009, at 06:45PM – #24

Ankur on September 29, 2009, at 06:10PM – #25

nanorich on September 29, 2009, at 06:20PM – #26

Eric Richardson () on September 29, 2009, at 06:36PM – #27

Victor Franco Jr on September 29, 2009, at 10:56PM – #28

Eric Richardson () on September 30, 2009, at 06:47AM – #29

Natalie DeJohn on October 01, 2009, at 06:07PM – #30

Add Your Voice

Search:

Story Location:

On Twitter

New Comments

Top Stories

Construction begins on $72 million bus depot near Union Station

City Target rolls out red carpet for DTLA opening

Donated collection of maps is like 'Christmas morning' for DTLA librarian

Recommendations

blogdowntown Photo Pool

Downtown Blogs

Downtown Sites

Elsewhere