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Hector O'Heochagáin, Dustin The Turkey, a phalanx of giant TV screens and a horde of whooping, caffeinated fans will descend on Patrick's Hill in Cork City this June 5th, to watch a brave, slightly unhinged, group of competitors also descend. The hill that is, the famously steep Patrick's Hill, is the lure for this year's Red Bull Soap Box Race, which is returning to Ireland for the first time in eight years.
The rules haven't changed however. Make a kart (no engine, natch), paint it up (the more outrageous the design the better), select the bravest team member, hoist them aboard and shove it down the hill. Fastest to the bottom will do well, but points will be awarded for entertainment factor as well, so try to impress the crowd as you go.
The event starts at 12pm on Sunday the 5th, and for those not up early enough there will be giant TV screens to help you take everything in. Hector will host the proceedings, while Dustin himself will be part of a panel of celebrity judges.
Over the years, vehicles have ranged from realistic replicas to anything the imagination can conjure up. Previous designs have included a piano, a giant baby carriage, a rodeo clown, a massive corn on the cob, a jail cell and the Golden Gate Bridge.