MORRISON — The flabby, spandex-wearing wrestlers were flexing muscles for the cameras next to their Nacho Libre soapbox — a giant black sombrero on wheels.
“We will dominate the others as Nacho dominates in the ring,” boasted David King, 26, mimicking an agent for movie character “Nacho Libre.” He wore a fake mustache and an outfit evocative of a mariachi band.
The sombrero soapbox crew was among many whose members proudly pledged victory for motorless homemade vehicles ranging from the meticulously engineered and crafted to Styrofoam and cardboard shells bound together with duct tape and a prayer.
One by one, the 46 crews performed goofy skits, then raced down Trading Post Road at Red Rocks Park on Saturday for the first and last running of the Red Bull Soapbox Race-Denver.
More than 40 of the popular races, with wildly decorated and themed racing machines that can reach speeds of 60 mph, have been held since 2000 from Belgium to Australia.
Thousands of people crowded next to the hay-bale lined track, craning to get a glimpse of the fragile soapboxes careening downhill. Others watched on a giant outdoor screen.
Many of the soapboxes invoked TV commercials, movies or famous people.
The “Experimentelles Strabenauto Markxci” is the pinnacle of German engineering, declared “engineer” Engel (Jake Wakefield to his college buddies at Colorado State University in Fort Collins).
“It is a combination of German efficiency and the Stelshish bomber,” Engel said of the machine with a hood that rose electronically. He admitted, however, that the glittery yellow skin of the machine was made of Spandex. He also acknowledged the Markxci didn’t have a chance to win the race.
“We’re just going as flashy as possible.”
There was a giant Guitar Hero guitar soapbox.
“What is cooler than seeing a giant guitar racing down the track with Slash driving it,” said Cory Foster, 34, referring to a soapbox crew member dressed up like the former Guns N’ Roses guitarist.
Jeff Hosea, 37, dressed up like 19th-century Colorado cannibal Alfred Packer while driving the “Rolling Bones” soapbox.
“We’re going to clean up the human carnage on the way down,” he promised.
The vehicle with a Styrofoam body and a steering wheel cannibalized from a Volkswagen Bug chugged down the hill a little faster than 10 mph.
But not every crew could even finish the race.
After their soapbox, steered by a broken golf club, crashed into a hay bale and crumpled, the Caddyshackers picked up their vehicle and tossed it on the side of the track in disgust.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
