This Ecuadorian Downhill Soapbox Race is the Kind of Crazy we LOVE

One of the awesome things about racing is that it comes in so many different shapes and forms that we probably couldn’t even name them all.

Even when just considering things on wheels and discarding racing that happens in the air or sea, the different off-the-wall formats that we come across really have us wanting to learn a lot more and maybe even go start participating in some of these races.

This time, we head down to Ecuador to catch up on the event called “Carrera Coches de Madera.” This tradition is one that gets better with time as it has been happening since the 1940s. Albeit fairly simple, the downhill soapbox race has some pretty intense moments as participants can rocket to highway speeds.

Within the event, there are several different classes of car, each with varying speeds. In this particular competition that we see below, it appears as if we see the fastest of the bunch. This class showcases machines made of metal frames, composite bodies, and four-wheel suspension that can exceed 60 mph, according to The Drive.

In this particular class, we also find two competitors onboard each soapbox machine. While some classes feature just a driver, others also have a person to push in some of the more flat sections where speeds slow down a little bit and another to steer the car to victory.

Down in the video below, we get to check in with competitors, Marco and Cesar Zumba as they push past other racers in an event that gets pretty intense in areas. No only do we see wild speed but also close quarter racing action as well. In fact, as the race flows down a closed off street, we even see sections where the competitors go full speed over bump strips, flying into the air without a care in the world.