July 30, 2004
Choose Homegrown Obsessive Insanity!
Joins Us At The Portland Adult Soapbox Derby
Both The Oregonian and Portland Tribune today went ga-ga over tomorrow's Red Bull Flugtag Portland which invades Waterfront Park in the morning.
The former offers a story on the front page of the Living section, which begins:
Given Trey Lackey's smidgen of Scottish blood, his joining the Scotland the Brave team at Saturday's Red Bull Flgtag was a natural thing . . . inasmuch as that phrase applies to the act of pushing a large, wheeled Scottie dog off a ramp 30 feet above the Willamette River while its kilted pilot braces for impact.
And the latter a story on the front of the Weekend Life section, which begins:
Not since Icarus, whose attempt to take to the air under his own power ended in Greek tragedy, has anyone risked such spectacular failure in flight.
Now, we don't actually have a problem with all the attention this event is receiving. It's suitably bizarre enough of an activity to warrant it, and we're sure they will have no problem with attendance levels.
But since it's getting so much prominent press (as we write this, KPTV's newscast just announced that a story on the event is coming up soon, and will probably have aired by the time we finish up here), we felt it necessary to remind people that tomorrow is also the date for the Portland Adult Soapbox Derby.
We may end up being there on our own this year, since at least two friends that we know of may be heading to Waterfront Park instead of heading to Mt. Tabor for the soapbox derby, but if any of our readers are choosing to watch good-old Portland-born downhill speeding madness rather than imported corporate flying and crashing-into-water, we'll be hanging out at the finish line all day taking pictures.
Don't worry about trying to find us. We'll be wearing our official t-shirt.
And just to show that even the organizers of the Red Bull Flugtag seem to understand the value of our own local traditions (or perhaps simply appreciate the obsessions of insane people everywhere), we should point out that a friend and reader of ours sent email to the Red Bull people indicating their dismay that both events had been scheduled for the same day.
"Truly, it is a tragedy that both are booked for the same day!" was the response they got from someone at the Red Bull Communications Centre. "If only we had known in advance. Ya live, ya learn." And after expressing the hope that the specific times might allow some attendance at both events, they concluded: "Have fun at the Adult Soapbox Derby!"
That's a corporate openness that almost makes us want to reward them by heading to Waterfront Park tomorrow. But instead, we'll be taking their friendly advice and having fun at the Adult Soapbox Derby. Things get underway at 10:00 AM, and according to The Portland Mercury, finals begin at 1:30 PM. The race will be followed by an after-party at the Eagles Lodge at 49th and Hawthorne at 6:00 PM, part of which (says the Mercury) will benefit Sisters of the Road.
Comments (2)
The One True b!X on 31 Jul 2004
Technically, I have some pictures from this -- half on film and half digital. But after six hours in the sun, the last few spent pegging the racers post-finish with water balloons, and lots of walking around, the keyword for the evening is "tired." So, more later, or tomorrow. Which is annoying because I still have things I need to get posted.
The One True b!X on 31 Jul 2004
And I have to say, firing off water balloons is much more entertaining that spending six hours taking pictures. Especially during the final gauntlet, where a few families with kids joined in.
I do however somewhat regret the first balloon I fired off, with no line of sight, which hit a racer in the crotch.