The PDX Adult Soapbox Derby in Portland, Ore.

High above Portland, Ore., on the windy roads of Mount Tabor, is an event anyone in Portland — local or visitor alike — can enjoy. The PDX Adult Soapbox Derby combines the excitement of an old-fashioned derby with the strange counterculture of this Pacific Northwest city.

Founded in 1997, the derby has but one rule — no kids allowed (at least to participate). This grass roots race features Portlanders of all backgrounds — hippies, hipsters, yuppies and weirdos — coming together for a common cause. Each year in August, hundreds of contestants and spectators can experience the handmade soapbox cars. These cars feature an assortment of wonderful and strange designs, like a giant hotdog, cars made from Lego pieces and even some created in homage to famous cars from pop culture like Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo’s Cadillac Eldorado of Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas fame. Others opt to ditch the creative side and work and instead design a vehicle with only one thing in mind: speed. By the event’s end, almost a dozen accolades are awarded at the winner’s circle including best in show, best crowd pleaser, best art and the “lame duck” award.