Building Instructions for Soapbox Racers

Trim the 6-foot plank to length using a saw and put the off cut wood to one side. This will be the center plank and it must be long enough to accommodate the driver in a sitting position with legs out in front and knees slightly bent. The driver uses his feet to steer a soap box car by pushing the front axle left or right.

Measure six inches from the front of the center plank and draw a line with a pencil across the width, using the carpenter's to ensure the line is at right angles. Measure 12-inches along the pencil line and mark the spot with a pencil. Make a hole using the drill and a 3/8-inch drill bit.

Take one of the 3-foot planks and measure eighteen inches along its length. Draw a pencil line at this point across its width and use a carpenter's square to ensure the line is straight. Measure two inches along the line and mark with a pencil. Drill a hole at this point using a 3/8-inch drill bit.

Put the 3-foot plank on the ground and lay the center plank on top so that the two drilled holes line up. Slip a washer onto the threaded bolt and push the bolt through both holes. From underneath slip a second washer over the bolt and screw on the securing nut. The 3-foot plank will hold the front axle and should rotate freely around the bolt.

Measure six inches from the rear of the center plank and draw a line across the width using a carpenter's square. Draw another pencil line across the width of the center plank a further two inches down its length. Measure two inches along each pencil line from each edge of the plank and mark the points. Drill holes at each point with a 3/8-inch drill bit and countersink each one with a 1/2-inch bit.

Measure sixteen inches from each end of the remaining 3-foot plank and mark pencil lines across its width. Measure one inch along the lines, from each edge, and draw pencil lines length ways to form a square. Drill holes at each corner of the square using a 3/8 drill bit.

Lay the 3-foot plank on the ground and place the center plank on top. Align the holes in the center plank with the holes in the 3-foot plank. Slide washers onto 5-inch bolts and push the bolts into the holes. Screw the nuts on to the bolts from underneath and tighten securely.

Turn the whole assembly upside down and support it on cement blocks. Measure two inches across the width of the front plank and draw a line along its entire length. Place four cable supports at 9-inch intervals along the front plank so that the U-shape of each one is exactly centered over the pencil line. Mark the cable supports' screw holes with a pencil.

Loosely attach two of the u-shaped supports on the front plank with one self tapping screw each. Place the pram axle on the plank and slip the cable supports over before securing with a second self tapping screw in each bracket. Fully tighten and secure two further supports over the axle at the marked points.

Measure two inches across the width of the rear plank and draw a line along its entire length. Place four cable supports at 9-inch intervals along the rear plank so that the U-shape of each one is exactly centered over the pencil line. Mark the cable supports' screw holes with a pencil.

Loosely attach two of the u-shaped supports on the rear plank with one self tapping screw each. Place the remaining pram axle on the plank and slip the cable supports over before securing with a second self tapping screw in each bracket. Fully tighten and secure two further supports over the axle at the marked points.

Remove and discard one panel of the soap box or packing crate. Place the three sided box on center plank above the rear cross plank with the open side facing forward. Use a hammer to secure the box to the center plank with the 4-inch nails at one inch intervals. Depending on the size of box chosen you may require more (or fewer) nails. Make sure that any nail tips exposed on the underside are hammered over to secure them.

Tie one end of the rope to the right side of the front cross plank and the other end to the left side. The rope is primarily used for pulling the car uphill after a race as the driver does most of the steering using his feet to push the front cross plank left or right.