Archive for August, 2008
Arrested Development and The Chicken Dance
Friday, August 29th, 2008Again with me and tv shows (see here, here and here). But this post doesn’t have anything to do with soapboxes; this post is really just a fabulous excuse to post clips of the hilarious Bluth chicken dances from Arrested Development.
How is this relevant to our team? Read our official team bio to find out
Also, guess what we’ll be doing in our skit?
I heart GOB!
Update:
Argh! That first video was taken down. Here’s the next best video I could find of the Bluth chicken dances. Enjoy it before it gets taken down, too.
So you wanna build a soapbox car…
Sunday, August 24th, 2008And you’re expecting tips from us? Hahaha…
From our team’s experience, all you have to do is ask 10 people and you’ll get 10 different answers on how to do it. So really, there is no right way. (But there are definitely better ways – but we’re still not the team to be giving advice on that!)
You could try Googling, which is what we did, and that helped give us ideas. Try Googling for billy cart construction instructions (billy cart is an Australian term). These billy cart instructions were pretty good.
You could also try searching for what past Red Bull Soapbox teams have done. This team, who participated in a Red Bull Soapbox race in 2004 (somewhere in England?), took two bikes and welded them together.
However you plan your cart – make sure it has brakes and steering! Red Bull is a stickler for that…
Chicken Guts
Saturday, August 23rd, 2008So, what have we been up to you might ask… We’d like to know too
har har
Here’s the bare bones of it all. Well maybe not so bare anymore! We’ve finally got some meat on dem bones!

. . . No, it’s not actually the doggie…
It’s newspaper! Not only can we put a shape into the craft, but we can catch up on our daily news too! For example, do you know who the Jonas Brothers are? I had no idea until we glued their faces onto the cart! Amazing what you can find out when you read a newspaper eh?
Wow, we can’t believe it’s almost time to race, and WIN! Well, see you on race day! Gotta go read…I mean GLUE some more newspaper on the cart! (…Maybe I can finally find out who Michael Phelps is!)
Chicken wire for the chicken car
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008Plum
Friday, August 15th, 2008Our team extends a wing salute and a hearty ‘thank you’ to our sponsor, Plum.
Plum is a locally-owned women’s fashion retailer.
Check for a Plum location near you – there’s one in Kitsilano at West 4th & Vine. Hey – that’s where the Red Bull Soapbox race is being held!
You’re not sushi – you’re chicken! official team bio
Thursday, August 14th, 2008Full House’s Soapbox Derby
Saturday, August 9th, 2008By now you must’ve noticed that I have a thing for sitcoms and soapboxes. (See here and here).
Well then, I couldn’t possibly leave out the most annoying yet utterly hypnotizing sitcom from when I was growing up: Full House. I must’ve watched every episode at least 4 times (sorry, Leonard). But strangely, I can’t remember much about the Full House episode where Michelle enters a soapbox derby.
I couldn’t find a fansite that posts screenshots or video clips of the episode. I guess Full House fans just aren’t as rabid as Simpsons’ fans. But fear not – I think I can piece together the major plot points:
Michelle: “I wanna enter a soapbox derby! Uncle Jesse – help me win!”
Uncle Jesse: “Sure thing short stuff – anything for you…as long as it doesn’t mess with my hair.”
Stephanie: “How rude! Michelle always gets her way – like being Princess for a day by cutting in front of me at Disney World!”
Joey: “Stephanie – Cut.It.Out.”
[Cue slow violin music - it's time for the moral of the episode!]
Danny: “Michelle, I just want you to know that we love you no matter who wins the race. We’re just proud that you’ve tried your best. But when the race is over, please make sure you wipe your shoes before you enter the house.”
Michelle: “You got it, dude!”
Michelle goes on to win the race. (Shock!)
What we’ve been up to
Monday, August 4th, 2008So far, on Day 3, we have almost completed our basic cart, and taken it out for a test run. What fun! If only our cart had a complete braking system and a few more safety features, we’d be ready to tackle 4th Ave.


Our next step is to figure out how to roast a giant chicken and attach it to the cart ;p
Almost forgot – team photo!










