On Saturday, August 16th, the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby returns for its 26th year of gravity-induced fun. People will gather starting at 10 a.m. along SE Reservoir Loop Drive and locations around the Mt. Tabor Park course to watch contestants roll with increasing speed down the extinct urban volcano. Over 150 volunteers will assist racers and attendees on the derby day, which lasts until 4 p.m.
In the summer of 1997, Paul Zenk and Eric Foren loosely organized a small group of friends to race down Mt. Tabor’s winding roads in an event that would create the inaugural PDX Adult Soapbox Derby. The annual community gathering has grown yearly to include 42 racing teams and between 7,000 and 10,000 spectators. This free-to-attend day of races features highly engineered carts and some haphazardly crafted contraptions that all rely on gravity for propulsion. People wishing to attend should anticipate walking some distance to the event and bringing water or other refreshments. Some concession items and merchandise are available for purchase at the event.
In 2016, Justin James and his ‘Team Rusty Rocket’ secured the track’s fastest run at 71.10 seconds. Each year, participants put in significant work to create fast and thematically creative entries. Some carts travel up to 50 MPH down the paved park roads as they try to secure the quickest time or the biggest cheers. The Soapbox Derby is a family-friendly event, but volunteers must clear the track before each run for safety, and responsible adults need to remain close enough to ensure their children are out of the way when a race starts. Parking in the park and neighborhood is limited, and people should plan to bike, walk, or take transit.
Update: Pictures from the 2025 Adult Soapbox Derby
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