The Red Bull Billy Cart Race Is Coming to Sydney

Ladies and gentlemen, turn off your engines. One of the world’s most outlandish racing events is headed to the harbour city later this year. The 2015 Red Bull Billy Cart Race will invite both amateur and professional teams to design, build and pilot their own gravity-powered racers along a downhill racetrack/obstacle course in Sydney’s Centennial Parklands. Entries are currently open, and you get bonus points for being funny. No, seriously.

Scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 15, the race will see 60 of Australia’s strangest and most innovative vehicles battle it out for the chance to be crowned champion. Competitors will be judged on three separate criteria: performance, speed and creativity. Ludicrousness appears to be a pretty big factor as well, with memorable competitors in previous races built to resemble teacups, corncobs and even the Golden Gate Bridge.

Red Bull has hosted more than 40 billy cart races since 2000, in locations ranging from England to South Africa to Helsinki. The Sydney event has already been given a distinctly Australian flavour thanks to the unveiling of a racer shaped like a pair of bright red budgie smugglers. Hey, they don’t call us the lucky country for nothing.

Applications to race in the event are open until July 17. Entry is free, and successful teams will be notified by July 31. Vehicles must be powered by gravity only, although proper braking and steering facilities are a must. Costumes are encouraged, but should not obscure the driver’s eyesight.

Here's a classic dress code for you:

For the full list of rules and safety regulations, as well as general information about the event, head on over to the Red Bull Billy Cart website.

Images: Red Bull.