Marc Petiet took part in the annual soapbox race in Wijk aan Zee for the thirteenth time on Friday evening. In his self-made bolide, built from parts of an old American car that was in danger of being scrapped, he zoomed down Zwaanstraat. But what inspires someone to participate in that?
The video below gives you an idea of what it’s like to sit in a soap box and race down the hill. Marc did this descent together with his daughter.
“It’s just a fun party in our village,” says Marc. “I love cars and building things. When my daughter was little I had built her a little cart in which I could drag her around.” Finally a few years later he got pieces of sheet metal from a car and built his own soap box. “My daughter was still too young at the time, so I decided to participate myself. I thought it was funny. And now my daughter and my son are also participating.”
Still, Marc is tense beforehand. “Once you roll, it’s laughter. But it’s like… shit beforehand. Get the cart ready, put on your helmet. Then they roll you onto the ramp, talk a little slack with the presenter and… you are launched. Then you’ll be relieved when you’re down. It is a great folk party, a true Wijk aan Zee tradition.”