On Saturday, thousands of spectators and participants alike ascended to Mt. Tabor for Portland's 19th annual Soapbox Derby. The competition pits a a menagerie of homemade carts fashioned from soapboxes in a race down the mountain. But they're not just any carts! The zany contraptions are always themed, from vehicle design to what their riders wear. In a city known for it's slogan "Keep Portland Weird," the various themed carts certainly lived up to that banner. Everything from upright Star Wars characters to Ghostbuster mobiles, an aquarium on wheels, to a motorhome and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles landing pad was on display and ready to race.

While carts came barreling down the roadway, we chatted with crowd members about the event, Portland and other childhood relics…

Ona Greenburg, 24

Hometown: Portland, OR
What would be the theme of your soapbox cart: I just saw Mad Max and I was thinking it'd be really cool to have the vehicle that Charlize Theron was driving through the desert with the dude with the double-necked electric guitars and the amp. Have a bunch of people in white dresses.
If you were to take your soap box cart down any hill, which would you pick? I don't know. I'm scared of heights and I'm learning how to skateboard around the cemetery so know one's looking right now, so through the cemetery.
Best way to recapture your childhood: Going back to your childhood home or city. At least for me. I grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and last time I went there was to visit my grandmother before she passed away a couple years ago. Ever since me and my mom moved out, people have been evacuating, like all of my childhood friends sorts moved out. It was king of like she was the last one there and then her funeral was a goodbye to my childhood home. It was like being in a ghost town. Every street you go down you remember the context of whatever memory you have, but it doesn't really exist anymore so it's like a farewell, which is kind of dark sounding. I think going back there as an adult, it brings up memories and you're kind of putting them in context with where you are now.
Weirdest thing about Portland: People's ideas of what's weird being normalized is really weird. This [derby] is really cool looking. I've never been here before, but I think it's really weird and ironic how things like this are becoming normative and why tourists are moving here because what makes Portland weird inspires people to do the same sort of weird stuff like tall bikes and stuff like this or Last Thursday. It's weird that this is so novel and weird to people. They're all going to move here and it's not going to be weird anymore and we're slowly seeing that happening.
If you were to get up on a soap box, what topic would you spout off about?Right now I guess I would probably be talking about… I've been reading a lot of articles about police systems in different cities and how they basically rape cities for revenue by instituting a bunch of 'how tall your hedge can be' laws that are targeted at the poor. Basically they have all these secret fees and laws where you have to pay fines, but they're in poor neighborhoods and so the poor have to shell out these fees that they can't shell out, so they can arrest them and keep charging money. They target the poor because they can get more money from late fees and other stupid fees.

Sarah, 25

Hometown: Washington DC
What would be the theme of your soapbox cart: Probably safari. I'd definitely get some giraffes, some lions, some hippos, do a little safari outfit…
If you were to take your soap box cart down any hill, which would you pick? Probably a mountain of some delicious, sweet treat.
Best way to recapture your childhood: Let loose, who cares? You have no worries, no cares. Play some twister.
Weirdest thing about Portland: We're visitors, so this is just a bit of a taste. We went to an '80s dance party last night. We haven't been here even a day yet.
If you were to get up on a soap box, what topic would you spout off about? Gender equality issues.

Maggie, 26

Hometown: Berkeley, CA
What would be the theme of your soapbox cart: A whale themed one. I saw an aquarium one that was really cool.
If you were to take your soap box cart down any hill, which would you pick? We were on the coast of Oregon and we saw this crazy, giant sand dune. I think that would be cool.
Best way to recapture your childhood: I think just doing creative things; coloring or making something. I think that gets stamped out of us as we get older.
Weirdest thing about Portland: We haven't seen too much yet. I don't know, I live in Berkeley. It doesn't seem that weird to me.
If you were to get up on a soap box, what topic would you spout off about? I study nutrition, so I think nutritious food for everyone and hunger. That's something I'd definitely get on my soapbox about.

Twila, 28

Hometown: Ireland
What would be the theme of your soapbox cart: There was a guy who had a blue furry animal. That was really good, so maybe something colorful and sort of animal-like.
If you were to take your soap box cart down any hill, which would you pick? This one. There's loads of people cheering, so that's cool.
Best way to recapture your childhood: Hang out with kids.
Weirdest thing about Portland: I've been here a week. There's so much! Getting beer when you get your hair cut is one. This random Saturday Soap Box Derby activity. I'm sure there's more I've yet to find out.
If you were to get up on a soap box, what topic would you spout off about? Maybe just congratulate the person who organized this. Such a good event.

Sara, 23

Hometown: Portland, OR
What would be the theme of your soapbox cart: It's a cat, it's gonna be a cat. A cute little kitten.
If you were to take your soap box cart down any hill, which would you pick? I don't know of any hills.
Best way to recapture your childhood: Swing on the swings! I loved swings when I was younger.
Weirdest thing about Portland: The people. Or me.
If you were to get up on a soap box, what topic would you spout off about? If I was doing a cat one, I'd just say "meow" all the time.

Eric, 23

Hometown:Portland, OR
What would be the theme of your soapbox cart: I'd probably do a bat, all black, big wings and big fangs in the front.
If you were to take your soap box cart down any hill, which would you pick? Just a straight line down Kilimanjaro, that's what it is.
Best way to recapture your childhood: Own a VHS player.
Weirdest thing about Portland: Downtown after 10pm.
If you were to get up on a soap box, what topic would you spout off about? If there was one thing I would talk about, it'd probably be the voice of the people. Understand that everyone should be heard and no bias. There's been a lot of opinions and there's been a lot of opinions on that opinion. It's a soapbox. You gotta be serious about something.

Brent, 38

Hometown: Portland, OR
What would be the theme of your soapbox cart: Tennis shoe.
If you were to take your soap box cart down any hill, which would you pick? It would be the mountain in Candyland, the gummy drop.
Best way to recapture your childhood: Probably through a time machine.
Weirdest thing about Portland: Nothing. It's the best place. There's nothing weird about it.
If you were to get up on a soap box, what topic would you spout off about? How about I get on a soapbox about soapboxes?

Gerard H, 25

Hometown: Rhode Island
What would be the theme of your soapbox cart: Wiener dogs.
If you were to take your soap box cart down any hill, which would you pick? This ones pretty dope.
Best way to recapture your childhood: Go camping. Drink milk. Properly sleep.
Weirdest thing about Portland: There aren't as many hipsters as I thought there would be.
If you were to get up on a soap box, what topic would you spout off about? Derbys.