Red Bull Soapbox Race

The Red Bull Soapbox Race will take over Piedmont Park on Saturday, and organizers are expecting a crowd not unlike that for Paul McCartney — about 50,000 people.

Of course, this crowd gets in free. (Free!) Not that Sir Paul didn’t haul a big production into town, but he didn’t need space to race 50 gravity-powered vehicles, either.

Here’s what you need to know before the show gets on the road on Aug. 29.

Rain? What rain?
At last year’s race in Philadelphia, a hurricane remnant came through — poured rain, but skipped the lightning or tornadoes. The race went on. The same rules apply here. As of Friday morning, Saturday’s forecast calls for lows in the 60s, highs in the mid-80s and showers likely in the afternoon.

What to bring, what not to bring.
On the list of no-nos: pets, tents, glass containers, food to be sold, alcoholic beverages, weapons. But, you can bring your own food and drinks, or buy them on-site. Free water stations will be set up, too. Chairs and blankets are OK, too, although they won’t necessarily help you get a good view of the race.

How to get there…by MARTA.
As always, MARTA is the easier option to get to Piedmont Park when there’s a big event. Here’s a map from the Green Concert that described how to walk from the MARTA stations to the park. (Just ignore those special entrances and such; seems most did during the Green Concert, anyway.)

How to get there…by bike.
This will probably be my mode of transportation to the races. (Wave if you see me there!) Volunteers from the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition will be on hand to valet park bikes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How to get there…by car.
Don’t. OK, this isn’t a no-car event like the Green Concert, but there are even more street closings to get in the way, and another huge crowd to fight for parking. Cars and Piedmont Park don’t mix.
Here are the streets you won’t be able to get to with a car. The time and day of closing is listed:
9:30 a.m. Friday: 10th Street from Argonne to Charles Allen.
7:30 p.m. Friday: 10th Street from Piedmont to Monroe; Charles Allen from 9th Street to 10th Street.
All day Saturday: 10th Street from Piedmont to Monroe, Charles Allen from 9th Street to 10th Street; Argonne between 9th Street and 10th Street.
Resident traffic only, Friday and Saturday: Argonne, Myrtle, Taft and Charles Allen between 8th and 9th.