Red Bull may well give you wings, but several competitors in yesterday's Red Bull Soapbox Race threatened to become airborne without downing any of the popular high octane drink as they flew down Patrick's Hill in Cork city centre.
An estimated 30,000 spectators lined the steep hill that leads down to the quays to watch some 63 competitors try their luck in a variety of ingeniously designed and created non-motorized soapbox cars. There was the Triple Fry-pass from Sandymount, Dublin where the driver submitted to the indignity of disguising himself as a hill of beans before negotiating several chicanes along the 250-metre course from Patrick's Hill down to Patrick's Bridge.
Crazy Babies from Old Ross, with diaper, soother and pram-like soapbox, took the first prize of a VIP trip for five to the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro. Close on their tail boards were fellow Wexford entry, the Lawn Boyz from Enniscorthy whose lawnmower soapbox cart won second prize and a trip to the British Superbike Championship at Donnington Park in September. The Ducks from Blarney, with their converted trike with skull and crossbones, took third prize. A Red Bull spokesman said "We've had similar soapbox races in Leeds, Melbourne, Vienna and Warsaw, but Cork topped them all with the steepest track and the wackiest entries - over 30,000 people turned out to see it, so it certainly caught the public imagination here in Cork. As well as that, a number of charities also benefited.
"We put up €5,000 for the best charity entry and the Marymount Mustangs, which was one of three entries from 2FM's Full Irish, won that for the Marymount Hospice here in Cork."