Start Your Engines... Forty-Four Teams Selected to Participate in Red Bull Soapbox Race Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Sept. 19, 2008 - Creative thinking seems to come naturally to Midwesterners as more than 200 teams applied to participate in Red Bull Soapbox Race in Cincinnati. Entries were some of the most unique, crafty designs Red Bull Soapbox Race has seen, but alas, only 44 teams made the final cut to race down the curvy streets of Mount Adams on October 4.

Who are these fine young minds you ask? Missourians, Ohioans (lots from Cincinnati), Michiganites, Kentuckians, oh, and one New Yorker slipped in (we don't know how that happened!) all illustrated intelligence, dare and wit with their innovative designs. Flying pigs, Barbie bandits, bananas and death mobiles are just some of the distinct speed demons spectators will see racing at speeds over 30 mph during the Race.

NO STANDING ON THIS SOAPBOX...YOU MIGHT GET RUN OVER

College rivalries, high school students and one ingenious shop teacher are just some of the cast of characters you can expect to see compete this fall. Although speed is important, Red Bull Soapbox Race is about creativity too

-- the more distinct the craft and skit, the better the team will fare -- and the prize is worth the many nights these teams will spend building their masterpieces.

First prize includes an unforgettable NASCAR experience for all members of the winning team -- they'll get to be in the pit, meet Red Bull Racing drivers and enjoy the action up close and personal. The Second place team will get to experience a high-performance race clinic and learn how to drive a real race car at full throttle around a track. Third place prize winners will get a hometown Red Bull Soapbox Race viewing party at their favorite local hangout. There will also be a People's Choice award, the winners of which will be chosen by audience SMS voting day of the race.

The first U.S. Red Bull Soapbox Race took place in St. Louis in 2006, but this wasn't the event's first go round. Red Bull Soapbox Race took place for the first time in Belgium over eight years ago! Since then, the Race has visited almost 30 countries including Austria, England, Jamaica, Czech Republic and Australia to name a few.

TRAFFIC VIOLATION WARNINGS AHEAD

While there is no limit on imagination, there are still a few rules of the road. All driving machines must be entirely human-powered -- no stored power or external energy sources allowed -- though they must also have a braking and steering system. Secondly, all vehicles must be less than six feet wide, less than 20 feet in length and no more than seven feet from the ground. And finally, all soapboxes can have one or two drivers, but when the crafts reach the start ramp they must weigh no more than 176 lbs.

The event is FREE and open to the public.