Food Truck-Themed Soapbox Car to Race at Red Bull Event

If you happen to see a pint-sized food truck rolling down 10th Street this Saturday, don’t be alarmed.

A food-loving group organized by Virginia-Highland residents John Wehr and Robert Bolen took their passion for food to the streets—literally.

Wehr and Bolen designed a food truck themed soapbox car for the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Midtown on Saturday, June 9.

The team name — I Love L.A. Eats — is a play off a Facebook album documenting meals and gatherings at their home on Los Angeles Avenue.

“The team name comes from our passion of cooking and entertaining,” Bolen said. “We are all centered around bringing people together.”

The team includes many of their friends with a variety of backgrounds — from personal trainers to news reporters to lumberjacks — with the hope of bringing people together to try something new and have some fun along the way.

This is their first time entering a soapbox derby, but they are optimistic about the outcome.

“This sort of large-scale competition appeals to us,” Wehr said. “We have a lot of fun with it.”

They built the base of the car — wheels, seat and axels — over the past few weeks with found parts from craigslist and a variety of other creative places. (Check out the photos of the assembly).

The colorful food truck shell will be secured to the sides of the car.

“It oddly seems roadworthy,” Wehr said.

The cartoon-like mini food truck will be up against 40 teams from elsewhere in Georgia, Alabama, California, Florida, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

This is the 12th soapbox race organized by Red Bull. The race returned to Atlanta this year after a three-year hiatus.

Want to watch the races? Head to 10th street near Piedmont Park on Saturday. The first race is set for noon.

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