FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 25th ANNUAL FOLSOM HANDCAR DERBY IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
Contact: Dan Bocinski
Tel. (916) 858-7364
Cell: (916) 205-4370
Email: Danbo@vsp.com
25th ANNUAL FOLSOM HANDCAR DERBY IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
Handcar and quadripede racers are ready to get pumping!
We have been pumping for 25 years!
The 25th running of the Folsom Handcar Derby is set to take place April 30th & May 1st, on the tracks in front of Broadstone Marketplace on East Bidwell Street in Folsom, Ca.
This year’s event will kick off on Saturday, April 30th with a day of practice and qualifying for all the teams competing in the handcar and quadripede events. That Saturday is a great time for local publications and television stations to come out to learn more about the event, as well as trying it first hand.
Sunday, May 1st will a day filled with excitement starting off at 8:00 am with the pusher’s contest where anyone wanting to push the 850 lb handcar for distance is welcome to compete. Competitors are separated by various weight classes in each of the men’s and women’s categories. Competition picks up immediately after with the handcar races as each team of 5 has one shot to be the best in their division and set the fastest time. A handcar team consists of one pusher to get the handcar started from a dead stop and four pumpers to propel it down the tracks. Multiple divisions including men, women, co-ed and masters will face off and pump the handcar down the 800-foot track with times separated electronically by 1/100th of a second. The racing continues with two contestants piloting the world’s only racing quadripede down the course. This is the 6th year for this event, with the past five years resulting in a huge success for participants and fans alike.
Because of this year being the 25th year of the event, we are bringing back the Gandy Dancer Walk and the daunting Handcar Tug-A-War. The Gandy Dancer walk consists of picking up two 150lb sections of railroad track and walking for distance against your competitors. (Women can compete carrying two 50lb sections of railroad track.) To round off the day of competition, teams will take to the tracks on two tethered handcars to see which team has the strength and determination to pull the other across the line in a Handcar Tug-A-War. This year will also feature the first ever pentathlon for those wanting to compete in all five events. The day ends with the medal awards ceremony for all of the competing divisions.
Throughout the day there is fun for all that come to watch or race. Admission is free. The location is in the heart of the Folsom shopping and food centers. All proceeds from the event benefit the Folsom, El Dorado, Sacramento Historical Railroad Association. For more information visit www.HandcarDerby.com or call (916) 985-6001.
