Shit, I’m only over two weeks late putting this together but at least it’s not months later like my earlier posts. I think this is progress, isn’t it? I would have done this sooner but I had lot of stuff on my plate for this. Not only was I covering the Red Bull Soapbox Race for my own personal site but I also needed to turn in a write up for it in at my day job and since they’re actually paying the bills right now they get priority.

Anyway, when I first heard that Red Bull would be bringing their Soapbox Race to LA’s Elysian Park I thought it would mean a lot of great opportunities for me for a few reasons:

• The first and most obvious was that it would make a great story for the site.
• It would be a great opportunity getting some practice shooting some action shots.
• This kind of relates back to my previous reason but it would also be a good opportunity to try out my 70-200mm telephoto lens that I’ve been sitting on. I’ve used that particular lens a few times in the past but other than when I used it to shoot my cousin’s high school graduation I feel like I never actually used it to its full potential.

Looking at the event I should have at least emailed for media credentials but the pessimist inside of me thought: “Why bother? I won’t get them.” Like I said it was a bit pessimistic of me to think this but realistically unless Red Bull hands them out like candy I had a snowball’s chance in hell of getting one. My site is still nowhere near where I want it to be (I know part of this is on me and my lazy attitude). I guess I could have used my day job credentials to try to apply and I might have had a chance to get them but I just had a nagging feeling in my head that I wouldn’t get them.

Fast forward to a few days before the race and I get an email from the Lowrider General Manager. It turns out one of the teams in this year’s race, The Spirit of Chavez Ravine had a Chicano/Latino historical-theme and I’m not 100% if the request came from them or Red Bull itself but Red Bull wanted to see if Lowrider could give them a shout out.

I may be a pessimist but I’m also an opportunist and I saw the perfect opportunity to get my media pass. I run into the Lowrider GM’s office and see if he can give Red Bull a call about it and I’m in. Also as an added bonus not only am I on my way of accomplishing my three goals for this but I also now have a new friend at Red Bull who was cool enough to let me know that if I ever need anything from him I should not hesitate to ask.

Back to the Soapbox Race, it was a great learning experience for me and unfortunately for me I think the biggest lesson I learned from this is that I was way in over my head. I once went to a Formula D event and I figured that wouldn’t so bad and this would be similar but I was wrong.

One: The Red Bull Soapbox Race had way more competitors than a Formula D event. Two: The way Formula D has their spectator area setup it’s really easy to get a lot of good shots of the action considering how the bandstands and most observation areas are pretty high up providing a good vantage point of most of the track. For the Red Bull Soapbox Race the track is about 1500 meters down a hill. On top of this because it is free and open to the public a lot of people show up which makes it really hard to get good shots.

Even if you can find a good vantage point like I said earlier, the track is 1500 meters and with all the twists and turns you only have a small fraction of the track to shoot at a time no matter where you are.

If there’s anything I learned from this event it is that me and my rinky-dink operation are way over our heads. In the future I really need to consider bringing along help to cover events like this. I tried to do what I could given the limited resources I had but I honestly wish I had help to make it better.

At this year’s event there were over 60 teams participating in this race and I tried to get photos of as many of them as I could but unfortunately I just didn’t have the time to get them all. The event opened to the public at 9AM and the first race started at if I remember correctly 11:30. Now I know that you’re probably thinking: “That’s 2 and 1/2 hours that should be plenty of time.” Unfortunately it wasn’t due to my poor planning. One: I had to check in at the media tent which was at the bottom of the hill and unfortunately for me the shuttle I took from the parking lot took me to the top of the hill so I had to walk all the way down. Luckily, since I was a pass-holding member of the media the Red Bull staff was cool enough to give me a ride on a golf cart back up the hill. Another thing that ate up my time was that part of the reason I was able to get a media pass was because I said I would do a more detailed spotlight story on The Spirit of Chavez Ravine team so I had to talk to them so I could take notes for my story for work. Once I got out of the way I just started shooting but unfortunately I was unable to get through all the teams before the race started.

Anyway I think I blabbed enough so onto the photos.

Here is The Spirit of Chavez Ravine’s car along with team captain Jesus Abril. Fun fact, I actually went to highschool with Jesus’s fiance, Oney. Small world isn’t it? These are the guys who I have to thank for the opportunity to get a media pass. The Spirit of Chavez Ravine’s theme is that they wanted to pay homage to the Chicano/Latino history of the Chavez Ravine area which is right next to where the race was being held. This is the place where during the ’40s and ’50s the famous Zoot Suit Riots and the Battle of Chavez Ravine took place.

Here’s Team Oh My Goose, which in case you can’t tell is a Dragonball Z-themed team coming out of Rowland Heights California.

A member of the Ragin’ Cajun team putting the final touches on their car. I wish I waited for the guy to finish and move but like I said I was a bit overwhelmed given the number of participants and I wanted to get as many of them in as possible.

The Frutas Y Furiouso Car fruit-themed team from Eagle Rock Ca.

This is team Time for Tubby Bye Bye. At first I thought they had this weird vacuum theme but it turns out their thing revolves around some crazy twist on the Teletubbies. I never watched Teletubbies since I was like 12 when they were on TV but after a quick visit to Wikipedia I learned that the Teletubbies had this weird sentient vacuum cleaner named Noo-noo or something, which is why their car looks like a vacuum.

Team Spin Cycle, a fidget spinner-themed car. These guys were giving away free fidget spinners to kids. I told myself I never would buy one of those things can they’re like 10 bucks a pop and I don’t feel like paying for something that stupid so I tried to ask for one for my kids but no luck.

Here’s Team Jetsons. These guys were actually 1 of the few intros I was able to watch and it was pretty original of them to do their version of the Jetsons intro. Staring at their car given its small size and odd shape I feel if it crashed it would be really bad for the poor driver inside.

CHP California Hill Patrol a team inspired by the old CHiPs TV show. I’m not sure if the guys are actually CHP officers or not. Given how wide their car I feel this would be a pretty safe ride even if it doesn’t enclose the riders.

Here’s Team Sloth Eyed Susie from Huntington Beach, one of two sloth-themed teams from this year’s race. Not sure if it’s just me but their car just reminds me of that old Scooby Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf movie where Shaggy gets turned into a werewolf and they need to race the Universal Monsters in a Wacky Races-esque themed race in order to break the curse and restore Shaggy back to his human self. In typical Hanna-Barbera fashion the cars the monsters drive are all modeled and themed after themselves.

Team Mystery Machine from Chino. These guys I missed their intro so I’m not sure if they did one based on the Scooby Doo theme song like team Jetsons.

Team Bombs Away from Santa Clarita Ca. According to their team bio, “Team Bombs Away has a deep love for partying and for adventuring the unthinkable,” and their car is shaped like a Jaeger bottle because “[they] love Jaeger as much as [they] love Red Bull.” I don’t want to jump to conclusions but they really sound like alcoholics.

Here’s team Cinder-Hell-Yeah. Unfortunately due to all the chaos I wasn’t able to get a clear shot of their car like I said I was on a tight schedule to wait around waiting for a clear shot but I did get all these pics of the team itself.

Team Mannheim Speedwagon from Phoenix Arizona or as I like to call them Team Super Hipsters. I know it’s pretty mean of me to call them that but between the whole Vaudevillian/turn of the century theme of their team and the fact that their team bio says they are “paying homage to a time when men were men. When brawn didn’t necessarily stand contrary to intelligence because you needed both to accomplish one’s ambitions,” as well as saying that their “team motto is ‘Cheerio'” and that “they also enjoy froth left behind on their mustaches from drinking a good Guinness,” they sound super hipstery.

Team Egg Static from Downey, Ca and their bird-themed car and team.

Here’s one of my favorite teams, the Arrested Development-themed Team Stair Car. I thought their theme was really good with their versions of Lucille, Tobias, and Gob although I think banana guy is a bit out of place although I’m sure he’s supposed to be a stand in for the banana stand. I’m not quite sure who the black guy is though. I don’t think he’s Carl Weather or Ice the Bounty Hunter and I don’t really remember anybody wearing a Hawaiian shirt in Arrested Development. Maybe I should just go back and binge-watch the entire series so I can figure it out.

The rockstar-inspired Team Red Bull Rockers from San Diego. Given how long this thing is I feel it would be pretty safe in a head on crash considering how big the crumple zone is. Although given the length I don’t think this thing could take turns this well.

Here’s the Street Fighter-inspired Team Mobile Castle. According to their bio they have one of the oldest participants of this year’s race with a guy clocking in at 62 years young. I was a little bummed I missed their run because I heard they crashed hard on the first turn.

Team Elote Loco which is made up of students from East LA College.

Team STEM Engine made up of students from NORCO College. STEM is an acronym for Science Technology Engineering and Math, a club they are all a part of. In case you can’t tell, their car is an industrial Revolution-inspired twist on the Ford Model-T.

Here’s the Aztec culture-inspired Team Los Jaguares Del Norte. Looking at these guys I probably could have done a quick feature on them for LOWRIDER but once again I failed due to poor planning.

Sorry for the poor-angle but this is Team The Shuttlecock from Highland Park California. Their bio doesn’t say that they’re into badminton so I’m guessing this whole theme is supposed to be a dick-joke.

Team Incredible Ikura and their ikura sushi roll-themed car. Their bio is pretty simple since all it really says is that they’re a bunch of sushi-enthusiasts which is why they have a sushi theme.

Team Swamp Monkey who came all the way from Palatka, Florida for this. Given their Florida origins and according to motivation for “adventure and a passion for creating things they can build in a garage,” it was only natural for them to come up with an air boat-themed car.

The ZZ Top-inspired Team Sharp Dressed Men from Lancaster, CA. According to their bio their primarily goal was to entertain and I guess for them a ZZ Top theme was the best way to do it.

This is Team Yippeeki-Yay from Ventura County. Their cowboy-themed wagon theme was pretty clever and the little fake horses were a good touch but I feel considering how the rider sits I feel this would be a very unsafe thing to take down the course.

This is Team OJ and the White Bronco. I’m actually surprised Red Bull was cool with these guys making an OJ Simpson joke. Although I guess enough time has passed where it’s okay.

Here is Team Brappy the Clown and the Giggles. The rider is obviously a reference to Pennywise the Dancing Clown from Stephen King’s It while the car itself seems to be more influenced by Ronald McDonald or other clowns.

Here is the Nightmare Before Christmas-inspired Team Pumpkin King.

Here’s their Sally enjoying one of the many free Red Bulls that were being passed out.

This hood ornament thing inspired by Jack Skellington’s pet ghost, Zero was a good touch.

Here’s Team Street Taco from Canyon Lake Ca. According to their bio they’ve won 2 Red Bull events in the past and they are hoping to eventually be used as part of a Red Bull advertising campaign.

Here’s Team Do It! from Santa Monica California who’s theme revolves around Shia LaBeouf’s “Just Do It!” motivational speech. When you say their name you have to make sure to say it with the exclamation just like Shia did in his speech. The fake Shia in the back was an interesting and quite creepy-looking touch.

This is Team Soapbox Crusher a team representing 4 Wheels Parts out in Compton, California. When I was riding on the shuttle from the parking lot to venue I was sitting behind one of their team members whom I overheard talking on the phone about how they accidentally broke a part of the steering. Luckily they were able to get it fixed in time to race.

This is Team Fast Food Low Friction. From what I saw on social media these guys had a shit ton of sponsorships including Weinerschnitzel.

This is Team Skull Mobile a military team representing Edwards Air Force Base. According to their bio the team is mostly made up o F-16 pilots which if it is true than these guys are officially the coolest team at the event.

Here’s Team Rock N’ Racer another rockstar-themed team out of Orange County dressed up like a generic hair-metal band.

The Breaking Bad-themed Team Heisenberg Express out of Compton. Looks like the team members are a Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, Saul Goodman and a Los Pollos Hermanos employee. I’m a little disappointed in their Walter White who is wearing leggings. Dude should have fully committed and gone pantsless.

Team I’d Smash That’s pinata car. If you see the preliminary designs they submitted to Red Bull you would think there were quite a few changes between the design and construction but in actuality it’s just a shell that is designed to be broken off.

Here’s Team Caliente Perro. Not quite sure if these guys are sponsored by Weinerschnitzel like the Fast Food Low Friction guys. According to their bio Team Caliente Perro is seeking redemption for their poor performance the last time the Soapbox Race came to LA.

Team Bayou Buggy and their crawfish car.

Team Spicy Noodle’s another Orange County team and their Ramen car. I’m a little disappointed the cup of noodles are part of the car and not costumes but honestly it was probably done for safety reasons.

Here are the Team Spicy Noodle’s Sriracha girls.

Team Nitro Babies. Like the guy from Heisenberg Express I’m disappointed these guys are wearing leggings and not fully committing to being pantsless.

The Oktoberfest-themed Team Prost! from La Verne.

Mad Max Fury Road-inspired Team Ride Eternal, Shiny and Chrome. According to their bio this team is made up of members who in the past have come in third, second, and first in previous Soapbox races. I know some of you are probably wondering where their car is and it is that pile of junk which is right in front of them. I know it’s a bit unbelievable but considering the experience these guys have they know what they’re doing.

Team Blue Demon out of Chino. The car may not be fancy but hey if it works it works.

Team The Party Pooper from LA. According to their bio one of the team members works in construction and the idea for the car came from one time when he was on site and he saw a porta potty tipped over.

Team Abbey’s Heel On Wheels out of West Hollywood. According to their bio the inspiration for their car is Judy Garland and they are hoping on bringing visibility to the LGBT community which is why the driver of their car was drag queen Rhea Litre.

Team Srirachcar out of Bakersfield. According to their bio these guys participated in the last Red Bull Soapbox race in Seattle but unfortunately the wheels fell of the car when they came off the first jump.

Team Death Cab For Pizza representing Mythical Entertainment. According to their bio these guys were inspired by the world’s largest pizza that was attempted in in Fontana a months earlier.

Team SoCal Soul Patrol out of South Pasadena. You would think these guys were going for an ’80s hip-hop theme but their bio says they were aiming for a ’60 Mod theme.

Team Chemical Guys an auto detailing company from Gardena and their Speed-inspired car.

Team Recycle Truck from Simi Valley. If I remember their presentation correctly their car is made entirely out of recyclable materials and stuff they found in thee garbage.

Team Crappers Full out of Ridgecrest. At first I thought these guys were trying to top Team Party Popper on the theme but it turns out they were inspired by a scene in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Team Van Damme Soapbox who are inspired by the Jean Claude Van Damme Volvo commercial from a few years ago.

Here is the second sloth-themed team, Team Sloth It Like It’s Hot from Newport Beach. According to their bio the inspiration for this car came from a trip to Costa Rica where they visited a sloth sanctuary. According to team member, Corinne Schnieders, “We thought it would be ironic because sloths are slow, we’re going to be super fast and who doesn’t like gangster sloth?”

Team Rocketeer out of North Hollywood. Their bio didn’t say much other than that they do work in the entertainment industry which could explain why their theme revolves around the 1991 Disney movie staring Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly and Timothy Dalton.

Here’s Team The Shoey another North Hollywood Team. Their theme is just Red Bull in general and according to their bio one of their team members is a professional racer who’s driven F1 cars as well as for Hyundai.

Here’s Team Custer’s Last Stand a family team. This is another team whose bio doesn’t really say that much other than that they were inspired by Custer’s last stand at Little Bighorn.

At this point the actual race was about to start and unfortunately for me there were still a few more teams that I haven’t shot yet. I was tempted to try to hang around the starting line and try to get some shots of them there but unfortunately it was crowded as fuck up there so I couldn’t get any good clean shots and I also thought it would be best if I went down the track and found a good place to post up and get some action shots.

This is also a good place to stop considering all the photo I took. The next part will be of the actual races and I should hopefully get that up in the next couple days… hopefully.