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Portland soap box derby race features a parade of creative gravity-powered cars

NPR | By Deena Prichep

Published August 17, 2026 at 4:17 PM CDT

At Portland's annual soapbox derby, motorless cars race downhill pulled by nothing more than gravity. It's part race, part parade, with cars built to look like sharks, guitars and slices of cake.

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All Things Considered

Deena Prichep

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