The Siraya National Scenic Area Management Office has opened registration for this year’s annual Siraya Go CreCar soap box derby, which has NT$450,000 in total prize money.
Registration is open until Sept. 23, with racing scheduled for Nov. 6 at Tsou Ma Lai Farm in Tainan’s Danei District (大內), the office said.
Prize money is to go to 11 participants, with the first-prize winner taking home NT$200,000, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Siraya National Scenic Area Management Office
Those interested in participating can sign up on the office’s official Web site, www.siraya-nsa.gov.tw, or through its Facebook page, it said.
The first 35 teams to sign up receive a NT$5,000 transportation subsidy, office director Hsu Chen-neng (徐振能) said.
“If you have a penchant for creativity, are into working on cars or just love track racing, put together a team and come join the event,” Hsu said.
The event is in its ninth year, and has gained a strong following among race fans across Taiwan, he said.
Contestants start at the top of a ramp and must overcome challenges on the track, including jumps and a parking challenge at the end, he said, adding that racers would even be required to answer questions about Siraya cuisine.
“This year we have added some new award categories, such as a popularity award, a surprise award and a jury award,” Hsu said. “We have also brought back the car-making film award and the Facebook popularity award.”
The office has planned a participants’ event at the farm on race night, for contestants to meet each other over food and music, he said.
On race day, families can enjoy a bouncy castle and parent-child activities at the farm, he said, adding that there would be food trucks and music performances.
The theme of this year’s race is the “celestial” aspects of Siraya heritage and kart-makers would be judged on their creative interpretation of this theme, Hsu said.
The office is to hold a warm-up kart-building event next month, he said.
Children aged six to 12 are invited to practice building unpowered karts, he said.
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