Building your Soap Box
These are the rules for building your soap box car. The rules within this page must be adhered to in order for your car to pass the safety inspection prior to racing the car. Failure to comply with these rules will forfeit your car from the competition until your car has been fixed. These rules are strictly for safety and will ensure that we ALL have a great time at the race.
Your soap box must have a few key components as listed below:
1: Base: (If made of wood), this must be a minimum of 3/4” thick, and a maximum of 1 ½” thick. It is recommended to use 1 full sheet of 3/4" OSB plywood cut in half (lengthwise) glued and or screwed together.
2: Steering front axle: this must be made entirely of steel, and must freely pivot below or above the base of the car. It needs to allow the wheels to rotate freely. Maximum allowable turning is 5 degrees. The axle also must be steerable by way of cables or ropes attached to a steering wheel or handle of suitable size for the weight of the car and driver. Steering the car must require minimal force.
3: Fixed rear axle: This must be made entirely of steel, and shall be fixed directly to the base of the car. The axle must be square with the base, and needs to allow for the wheels to rotate freely.
4: Brake: Your soap box must have a braking system. It needs to be easy to apply, and shall require minimal force to continue braking. The portion of the brake that contacts the road must be made of something that will not damage the roadway or the car (rubber, wood, skateboard tape, etc.). The brake cannot cause any sideways force on the car (CENTRALIZED OR DUAL BRAKE).
5: Wheels: These must be a minimum of 8” diameter, and a maximum of 14” diameter. The wheels need to have bearings of adequate size to support the car.
6: Dimensional limits: The car must be wider than 2’ and no wider than 3’ at the widest part of the car (including wheels and axle nuts). Total length of the car is not to exceed 7’ including wheels. This is to maintain a uniform design and make setting up the starting block easier.
7: Helmet: The driver must wear a suitable helmet. This must fit the driver properly, and must be adequate for the potential speeds associated with this type of race.
8: Weight: See the "Your class" page for weight restrictions. Weights can be added to the car to achieve the maximum weight for your class. Weight is based on car and driver. There is no minimum weight requirement.
These rules are for the safety of everyone involved, and will allow for creativity in the construction of your racer. Anything aside from these rules is up to you as the builder and racer.
These are the rules for building your soap box car. The rules within this page must be adhered to in order for your car to pass the safety inspection prior to racing the car. Failure to comply with these rules will forfeit your car from the competition until your car has been fixed. These rules are strictly for safety and will ensure that we ALL have a great time at the race.
Your soap box must have a few key components as listed below:
1: Base: (If made of wood), this must be a minimum of 3/4” thick, and a maximum of 1 ½” thick. It is recommended to use 1 full sheet of 3/4" OSB plywood cut in half (lengthwise) glued and or screwed together.
2: Steering front axle: this must be made entirely of steel, and must freely pivot below or above the base of the car. It needs to allow the wheels to rotate freely. Maximum allowable turning is 5 degrees. The axle also must be steerable by way of cables or ropes attached to a steering wheel or handle of suitable size for the weight of the car and driver. Steering the car must require minimal force.
3: Fixed rear axle: This must be made entirely of steel, and shall be fixed directly to the base of the car. The axle must be square with the base, and needs to allow for the wheels to rotate freely.
4: Brake: Your soap box must have a braking system. It needs to be easy to apply, and shall require minimal force to continue braking. The portion of the brake that contacts the road must be made of something that will not damage the roadway or the car (rubber, wood, skateboard tape, etc.). The brake cannot cause any sideways force on the car (CENTRALIZED OR DUAL BRAKE).
5: Wheels: These must be a minimum of 8” diameter, and a maximum of 14” diameter. The wheels need to have bearings of adequate size to support the car.
6: Dimensional limits: The car must be wider than 2’ and no wider than 3’ at the widest part of the car (including wheels and axle nuts). Total length of the car is not to exceed 7’ including wheels. This is to maintain a uniform design and make setting up the starting block easier.
7: Helmet: The driver must wear a suitable helmet. This must fit the driver properly, and must be adequate for the potential speeds associated with this type of race.
8: Weight: See the "Your class" page for weight restrictions. Weights can be added to the car to achieve the maximum weight for your class. Weight is based on car and driver. There is no minimum weight requirement.
These rules are for the safety of everyone involved, and will allow for creativity in the construction of your racer. Anything aside from these rules is up to you as the builder and racer.