Soap Box Derby 2011!

Welp, my team lost. As if that was any surprise.

I mean, when you’re competing against teams with amazing themes and costumes, like Craigslist, Christmas and the winners, People of Walmart, a simple beer-themed team just doesn’t stand a chance. Luckily, I didn’t care, because I was too busy enjoying snacks, people watching and mimosas alllll day long!

Here are some highlights from the event:

Unfortunately, it was a cold, gloomy day, but we made the most of it.

Here’s the site of the derby, aka. a parking lot in the middle of the company’s campus. Each team had a tent and a “pit” in which to build their soap box cars.

(On a side note, the building that I work in, “the Penthouse”, is that reddish-brick building in the top, right of the photo. Before I switched departments, I worked in that little, teeny yellow building on the left side of the picture, and before that, I worked in the brick building near the center of the photo, called “the Firehouse”.)

And here’s the view from the other side of campus. You’re looking at the “Yellow House” and “The House Formerly Known as the Blue House,” which is that brown one. Also, notice the creepy ice cream cone costume by the ramp in the parking lot. That’s my company’s version of punishment. Anyone who misbehaves at the derby is forced to wear the cone costume!

Each team met at the pits around 8:00 am and had until noon to build and decorate their cars.

Of course, it wasn’t all work…

At noon, there was an eating contest. A representative from each team had to participate. The food? Pig testicles. Shockingly, one of the guys in the Boys Club in which I work was the winner. Go figure.

After the balls, (what?!), it was time to start the race! Here is the CEO of our company during the opening ceremonies. My company is one of the sponsors of the car he’s standing in — can you find the name?

This guy sang the Star Spangled Banner, and my boss released one trash bag full of balloons into the air as a remote control airplane flew overhead (and then crash-landed on the hood of someone’s car in the parking lot. Oops!) Gave me goosebumps!