Breathtaking races!

We all know F1, Nascar, MotoGP. These are intense, exhilarating races, they keep us in suspense. These are expensive races with high monetary stakes.

But what about the lesser-known races, events that remain in the shadows but which, in some places, are adored on the same level as the Grand Prix?

Their budget is limited. Their vehicles are a little less flamboyant. However, these races will entertain you, make you laugh, amaze you!

I am talking here about absurd competitions, marginal championships, extraordinary circuits.

I present to you my top 5 of the most unusual vehicle races in the world.

We start with an unusual race, but still well known.

Soapbox racing is incredibly popular for its simplicity and accessibility. But what we may not know about this sport is how much it has grown, to the point of having its own championship in various countries around the world. In France, you can participate starting as young as 5 years old. The European championship has existed since 1980. In the United States, the sport’s country of origin, the Soap Box Derby is in its 84th edition.

Soap box racing federations have even been created to manage competitions which must comply with specific rules, whether in terms of calculating scores, making vehicles, equipment worn by runners and even the inclination of the track! We are still far from the kids who do that on the street in their neighborhood!

So what is a soapbox race?

It is a competition in which motorless cars move by the force of gravity alone. The carts are often built by hand and the participants compete in ingenuity to design a fast and original car.

Where does the name soap box (or crate) race come from? It was a clever soap merchant from the United States who, in 1933, decided to put a vehicle construction plan in the wooden boxes that contained the soaps in order to recycle their boards. The passion of children for these carts has spread to become a real obsession all over the world.

The second race that I present to you is called “Swamp Buggy Race”.

This competition takes place in Florida in the vicinity of Naples. Originally designed by a man named Ed Frank in the early 1900s to help people navigate the muddy swamps of the Everglades, the vehicle had an elongated and odd look. Over the years, the vehicle has grown in utility, complexity and popularity. Farmers and hunters built their own swamp buggies, got together to compare machines and challenge each other! (you know, pride 😉)

From there the race was born, at the beginning of the 1940s. In those years, the prize for the winner was usually a shotgun. The machines have evolved, as has the prize awarded to the winner, which is now several thousand dollars. The race has become a major event, now accompanied by a parade and even a beauty pageant to be crowned “queen of the swamp buggy”!

Then there are the famous lawn mower races! This competition was invented in England in 1973 in a pub in Sussex. A group of people who did not have the financial means to register for a car race thought of an alternative. Everyone has a lawn mower, right? The sport had just been born.

Competitors are invited to compete on the circuit driving modified lawn mowers without blades (for safety reasons). There are very specific regulations to follow, both in the modification of the vehicle and in the way of driving. A championship takes place in Europe and the United States, but this kind of race has been popularized all over the planet. The event has even been adapted for countries with northern climates with ice lawn tractor competitions!

Harley Drag On Ice better watch out! hahaha

You can’t miss the pachydermic and clumsy bus race! These are still quite widespread and rather extreme! The bus should be modified as little as possible. And we are not talking here about a small pre-kindergarten bus😂 . We are talking about a real school bus with 35 to 70 seats. It is advisable to remove the windows and the racing helmet is mandatory. Because its a shaky one!

The buses present themselves on real asphalt or dirt tracks and fight fiercely for the first place. War paint adorns the walls while scrap metal clashes aggressively. Watch out for tight turns! Let’s say that a bus lacks a bit of flexibility!

I saved the best for last! The “Pig-N-Ford Race”! This race, which takes place in Oregon, dates back to 1925 and is so popular that it still takes place today.

It takes a dirt track, Ford Model T cars and… a pig! 🐷

Participants must, at the start, grab a pig, keep it under their arm and crack their Ford to start it. The rest of the run must be done WITH the pig under your arm! Fun and laughter guaranteed!

The story goes that this funny circuit was born from a true event. Two people from Tillamook County were driving down the road in their Model T when they spotted a pig on the loose. They chased the animal to finally seize it and bring it back to the farm. From there was born the idea of this original competition.

Over the years, it grew in popularity, but remained true to itself. It’s still the Model T Ford as the racing car to drive to capture the pig and cross the finish line. 🏁

There are a number of crazy competitions. I’m thinking of Redbull’s Flugtag, Nanaimo’s « Silly Boat » regattas, office wheel chair races in Japan… You can really race with anything! All you need is a little imagination! Regardless of the vehicle, regardless of the price at the finish line, the important thing is not to take yourself too seriously and to have fun!

MH