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How to Make a Soap Box Racer

Using nothing but the power of gravity to build up exhilerating speeds, the traditional soap box racer has long been a toy much beloved by children and adults alike. As they can be made with easily scavanged materials and only a minimal range of tools, this project will not cost a great deal. Getting the soap box racer's intended driver involved in the project can also be a way to introduce a child to the joys of carpentry.

Things You'll Need

Soap box or similar wooden crate
Assorted timber
2 axle rods
4 wheels
5 feet of rope
Drill
Hand saw
Nails
Hammer
Nut
Bolt
Washer
V-shaped staples

Instructions

- 1
  
  Use a hand saw to cut the chassis timber to the necessary length.
  
  Cut your main chassis timber to length. This timber will dictate the length of the whole cart, so ensure it's short enough for the driver's feet to reach to the end, but not so short that he or she will be unable to fit into it.
- 2
  Attach the axle planks to the main chassis timber. The rear plank needs to be firmly attached, using four nails. The front axle plank must be able to turn freely, so attach it with a single bolt and place a washer between the axle plank and the chassis plank.
- 3
  Attach the axle rods to the axle planks. This can be done either by drilling a hole all the way through the length of both planks, or by fixing the rods to the underside of the planks by making a channel from the v-shaped metal staples used to hold cabling into place.
- 4
  Nail the soap box to the rear of the chassis plank. When choosing your soap box, bear in mind that it must be large enough for the chosen driver to sit in comfortably.
- 5
  Attach a length of rope to both ends of the front axle plank. This will be held by the driver and used to steer the racer.
- 6
  Attach the wheels to the axle rods.

Soap Box Derby