Red Bull + Engineering = Flimsy Wooden Death Traps

This weekend past was yet another holiday here in Belgium. I wish I could tell you which one. Looking online, it may be 'Whit Monday', a religious holiday. However, everywhere there were signs here in Brussels for "Iris Fest" and people told me it was to celebrate a flower. At the risk of sounding insensitive, I don't care that much - I just like a good holiday.

This was a particularly nice one because the authorities blocked off the city center to all car traffic and it became a pedestrian and bicycle zone.

We ambled down to Brussels Park and noticed an unusually large group of people on the north edge. It turns out that Red Bull was sponsoring a massive soap box derby competition, complete with some local celebrities. At least I suppose they were, they had cameras following them and microphones and were wearing what must have been 'authentic' Mtv T-Shirts. Anyway, despite these loud, and (to me) unknown famous people, I found the designs for the cars and the overall atmosphere to be great fun. I've included a few of the photos of the cars from the day for your amusement.

This sort of competition brings out the best in people. You find the most creative designs, with fearless drivers who seem to care not all that they have built and will race in the most colorful deathtraps on four wheels.

We saw cars in the shape of giant spiders, beach-side cabanas, large bananas, humping rabbits, event a large pile of bull crap, complete with the driver dressed as a bull.

The race is fun because people (and especially crowds) love to revel in the misfortune of others. Most of the cars are so poorly built they don't finish the race - they tumble at high speeds on the corners; the wheels fly off, or they just roll and collapse on the poor driver. The crowd loves this.

I didn't have the patience to watch the entire race, the so-called-local celebs introducing each car drug it out far beyond patience. The best I saw (by far) was the car that represented the Brussels mascot - Mennekin Pis, the pissing boy. The car had a statue of the little boy mounted on a pole on top of the car, and as it raced down the course, it rotated and peed on everyone in the crowed. Hilarious.

So I don't know how special the event was, Red Bull may sponsor one in every town across the entire planet for all I know, but it was still good fun.