Photos of the Really Really Illegal 2008 Illegal Soapbox Derby

Well, turns out there's a reason why it's called the *Illegal* Soapbox Derby.

When we arrived at Bernal Speedway in San Francisco to take in the 2008 running of the Illegal Soapbox Derby, some unpleasantness ensued between the racers and several representatives of the San Francisco Police Department. It seems the Parks Department had received a pre-race complaint from someone in the Bernal Heights Temperance and Abstinence League, and the cops were under orders to put the kibosh on the event. (According to the police, San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano had attempted to intervene on behalf of the Soapbox Derby, but to no avail -- Ammiano was overruled by the bureaucrats at the Parks Department. Thanks for trying, Tom!)

Major buzzkill.

After some futile and frustrating attempts at negotiation, the crowd dispersed peacefully and relocated (no less peacefully) to an another gravity-rich location elsewhere in the city.

The backup race course was steeper, narrower, and more curvy than Bernal Hill, which changed the tone of the racing dramatically. Check out this g-forcing, wheel-lifting action! Action! ACTION:

But the races did go on, and that's what matters most. And in the end, good clean fun was had by all... which is really what the Illegal Soapbox Derby Races are all about, anyway.

 

Suffice to say, we will not provide much advance notice of the Illegal Soapbox Derby Races in 2009, to ensure that a repeat of this year's SFPD unpleasantness does not occur. You'll be on your own to figure out the date. But when you do, Telstar Logistics be there too, and we look forward to saying hello.

Lots more photos fro 2008, below:

LINK:
The Really Really Illegal 2008 Soapbox Derby (Flickr photoset by Telstar Logistics)

UPDATE 11/3/08 12:42 pm: Via Jocelyn, here's a video of the SFPD talking to the crowd. The officer in charge was friendly enough, at least, and he confessed that he used to race soapbox cars down Russian Hill (illegally) when he was a kid:

Officer Talking To Soapbox Derby Crowd

PREVIOUSLY:
Photos! Photos! Photos! of the Action! Action! Action! at the 2007 Illegal Soapbox Derby

The 2006 Illegal Soapbox Derby (Flickr photoset by Telstar Logistics)

The 2005 Illegal Soapbox Derby (Flickr photoset by Telstar Logistics)

(IMAGES: All photos by Telstar Logistics)

Comments

[David Calkins]

Yea, the same became true of the Urban Iditarod. It became too big to survive, so it's back to being underground... We announce the day before on no lists. The racers are all know the date, just not the where.

[Adam Muse]

Wow, what's with the guy doing the soapbox race with his baby in the back of the car? I sure hope that's a doll! Evidently the driver thought it was dangerous enough to wear a helmet for himself, but cool to stick his baby in the back unprotected??

[Stuart]

@Adam. Hard to know whether your comment is for real or not. Either way it gave me a good chuckle!

[Iosef Stalin]

Wow, that is a coherent, reasonable Police Officer. Where do I get one for my community?

[flytch]

baby in back? oh don't worry... it was already dead... that's why it was in the coffin..

[rembrandt]

perhaps the police officers just didn't see the irony in them stopping this gravity event

[joe the coder]

Five-yr-old conversation with her dad:
"Why aren't they here, daddy?"
"Well, it's apparently against the rules. I don't know if it is, but these police say it is."

[sashamalchik]

Ah it's not about "rules" or "safety"; it's all about money for permits - park & rec needs to crack down because they are facing huge shortages and layoffs; you're doing something in the park? - ok, here's a piece of regulation that says you got to get a permit and pay for it... and pay for cops' presence, DPT, etc. Nothing but money is the reason for this. In any case, still really hope those of us who aren't privy to the insider info will be able to find out about the future races somehow.. it'd be a such a pity otherwise :-/

p.s. btw, Todd, I said "hi" to you, thanked for the blog and you asked me to take a picture of you with the police officer next to his car right before you left. -Sasha

[Toaster]

Well I agree it's a drag when you get shut down, but you knew the risk, hence the title for the event.
If your expectation is that an ambulance take you to the hospital in the unfortunate event of a major catastrophe or accident, then you should honor the process by which those services are reserved and paid for.

[Kay J]

These soapboxes are great, must be fun to drive...

[Bruno]

Much as I hate to say it, I think this event is finished.

You know how the progression works:

1) A few friends get together for an informal but very cool event.

2) They invite a few friends for the next time.

3) The event grows a bit too big for informality, so the Original Participants take leadership roles and organize things. They become the event's "Gurus" or "Founding Members".

4) Word gets out in the local area and the event grows.

5) The event draws "Official Attention" from the authorities. Word of the crackdown is deemed newsworthy and reaches the Internet(s).

6) The next time the event is held, 100,000 people show up, food vendors set up booths, the local Renaissance Faire People decide to co-opt the scene and Pandemonium ensues.

7) The event is canceled or postponed until the Original Participants can figure out how to tackle things next year.

8) The event is recast as a commercial enterprise, complete with team sponsorships, licensing fees for drivers, Tech inspection for the cars, Insurance waivers, Closed course, and televised coverage on the Speed Network.

I wish you luck, and bid you Peace.

Bruno

[Beverly Anderson]

I wonder who would call the police with a complaint, i.e. the "pre-race complaint from some Bernal Hill Temperance League" neighbor? It's my experience that all the Bernal Hill neighbors love the annual show, not just because it's fun but because there's the more important issue of our planet's desperate need for non-fossil-fuel transportation. Gravity as fuel is romantic, poetic, silly fun . . . the world needs more of this.
OKAY it does scare the dogs. But just for ONE DAY??
The dogs own it every other day of the year after all.

[Mark]

Beverly,
I'd imagine someone who doesn't want to see the city or township have to spend a few million dollars on lawyers, hospitalizations and payoffs when some knucklehead gets himself or a spectator killed.