HOW TO GO
What: Red Bull Soapbox Race
Where: Eden Park, 950 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati
When: Aug. 29, 1 p.m.
Cost: No admission cost
More Info: www.redbullsoapboxrace.com
“I like to go fast.”
So said Anthony Hopkins’s character in the movie, “The World’s Fastest Indian,” and so said Rob Capituik, a 41-year-old independent contractor and lifelong car enthusiast from Hamilton who is entering his soapbox car in the Red Bull Soapbox Race Aug. 29 at Eden Park.
The Red Bull Soapbox Race has existed for several years, with between 1 to 10 races taking place around the world each year. Cincinnati and Atlanta were the two U.S. cities chosen for 2015. Out of over 150 applications, 50 were selected to compete. The criteria for being selected is creativity, originality, technical feasibility and safety, and first prize is a trip to Las Vegas and a driving experience weekend with Red Bull athlete, Bryce Manzies.
Over the years, the Soapbox Race has seen Lego machines, “Tron” themes, ostrich heads, and giant hot dogs. Capituik also participated in the last Cincinnati Red Bull Soapbox Race in 2008, where he built a $2,000 car with the partial sponsorship of the radio station, WEBN. He doesn’t have a sponsor for this race. Capituik’s design this year is a 1926 Model T, which fit both his budget and aesthetic preferences.
“Last time was our first time, and we had a mishap at the starting line, and I finished 23rd,” he said. “I built this car for probably under $500, very simple and old school, using two-by-fours. I work in construction, so I had most of the stuff anyway. And I’ve always just liked Model Ts, and this car we built this year is extremely fast. I’m excited.”
The rules allow for a maximum of two drivers and five team members. Capituik will be the only driver for his car, but his team includes his girlfriend, two daughters, and one daughter’s boyfriend. In addition to racing, each team is required to perform a brief, pre-race skit. Capituik chose part of one of the dream sequences from the 1998 Coen brothers cult hit, “The Big Lebowski.”
“It’s the part where Jeff is teaching Maude how to bowl, and I walk like Jeff down the lane, and my daughters are the pin girls,” he said. “We handmade all the costumes. (The skit) is a pretty crucial element. It’s about one-third of your total score.”
Capituik had a theory about why an item that has nothing to do with racing should have such a significant impact on team totals.
“I think it’s to even the playing field,” he said. “There are many teams with big sponsors and professional-grade cars.”
The race takes place at Eden Park in Mt. Adams. Capituik said he has only seen the track on Google Maps so far, but that was enough for him to deem it ‘scary.’ “
“There’s a lot more of everything compared to last time,” he said. “The length, the turns, the grade. At our meeting (with Red Bull), we were told it was the most advanced course they’d ever done.”
Although the 2008 race was free of incident, Capituik recognized a mild potential for injury among drivers. This year’s race starts at 1 p.m.
“You get up to 25 to 30 miles per hour, and the brakes are usually homemade, just sticks rubbing against the ground, not a lot of stopping action,” he said. “They have hay bales up, and safety advisors have told us to spend extra time on the brakes. Still, you might get banged up a little.”
Nonetheless, Capituik doesn’t seem too worried.
“They’re going to have a fairly large ramp on the track this time,” he said. “You could go around it, but I’m going for it.”
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