Folsom Handcar Derby Fundraiser

The 31st Annual Folsom Handcar Derby
May 4th & 5th, 2024

Overview

Since 1992, Folsom, El Dorado, and Sacramento Historical Railroad Association has hosted the annual Folsom Handcar Derby on the former Southern Pacific Placerville Branch, where local businesses, groups, and charities compete to get their handcar across the finish line in the fastest time.

The event also features competitions for individual strength and endurance, and it’s the only known event in the world to feature Quadripede racing!

The event currently takes place along East Bidwell Street at Broadstone Parkway in front of Broadstone Marketplace.

Our official racing handcars are provided for all trials & racing.
All participants must be 18 years old on or before May 4th, 2024.
Timing is done electronically.
The event runs rain or shine.
All proceeds benefit Folsom, El Dorado, and Sacramento Historical Railroad Association, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Handcar Racing

Each team is comprised of 5 members: 4 pumpers and 1 pusher. The pusher pushes the handcar into motion at the beginning of the track, and then the pumpers take over and pump the handcar to the end of the track.

Pushers Contest

Each team’s pusher will automatically be entered in the pushers contest on Sunday. Pushers are placed in weight divisions and compete on how far they can push an empty handcar down the track with a single push.
Additional pushers can be entered for a small donation.

Quadripede Racing

Divisions

Division	^Rookie	^General	^Elite	^Masters
Open Teams are divided into weight classes. No more than two team members that were part of a past first place team in the last three years are allowed.	X	X	X
Coed At least 2 team members must be women.	X	X	X	X
Women All team members must be women.	X	X
Seniors All team members must be 55 years old or older.		X
Elite All team members must be past first place medal winners from the Folsom Handcar Derby or other handcar races.			X
Masters All team members must be 40 years of age or over.				X

Awards/Medals

Award medals will be presented to each of the divisions. Pusher Contest medals will be given to the top distances in all divisions.

May 4th & 5th, 2024 Tentative Schedule
(Subject to change)

The race takes place along East Bidwell Street at Broadstone Parkway in front of Broadstone Marketplace.

Saturday,

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Registration/Practice/Qualifying
Teams get practice, trial time run, and safety training on handcar. All teams from each division running trial runs will advance to the finals. (Set aside about 90 minutes per team for Saturday)

Team Photos

Sunday,

8:30am	Pushers Practice Time
9:00am	Pusher’s Contest
9:45am – 10:00am	Opening Ceremony
*10:00am	Handcar Racing
*1:00pm	Quadripede Racing
	–
	–
2:00pm – End *Event & times subject to change or cancelation	Award Ceremony/Photos Awards will be presented to the first and second place teams of each of the nine divisions when at least 4 teams are entered in that division. Pusher Contest awards will be given to the top three distances in all divisions. Teardown All teams are included. It’s an event tradition!

Fees

Entry fee is $25.00 per person for the 5 member team (total $125.00).
The first 20 teams entered will receive a short-sleeve Handcar t-shirt (5 shirts per team, $3.00/$5.00 extra for each XXL or XXXL shirt if available. Must have entry fee paid to order XXL or XXXL shirt selections by April 1, 2024)
Quadripede racing is $10.00 per person per race. Two people are required to race.
Pushers Contest is $5.00 per person (if not already a pusher for a team)