A beloved Folsom tradition is preparing for its swan song in the coming weeks as the 32nd Annual Folsom Handcar Derby makes its last official run. Set to take place May 24-25 along the tracks in front of Broadstone Marketplace on East Bidwell Street, this long-running event has thrilled competitors and spectators alike for more than three decades.
Since 1991, the Folsom, El Dorado, and Sacramento Historical Railroad Association has hosted the annual derby on the former Southern Pacific Placerville Branch, bringing local businesses, teams, and charities together for a high-energy competition on the rails. The event has become a staple in the community, combining athleticism, teamwork, and good-natured rivalry. However, after 32 years, organizers have announced that 2024 will likely be the final chapter, citing challenges in coordinating and funding the event each year as well as recruiting volunteers and participants.
The Folsom Handcar Derby is known for its fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled competition that tests strength, speed, and endurance. The event kicks off on Saturday, May 24, as teams participate in a required safety orientation before making a timed practice run down the track.
The real excitement happens on Sunday, May 25, when the derby officially begins at 9 a.m. with the Pusher’s Contest. In this unique test of strength, participants attempt to push an 850-pound handcar for distance, separated into men’s and women’s weight classes.
Immediately following, the handcar races take center stage. Each five-person team—composed of one pusher and four pumpers—competes in their respective divisions, including men’s, women’s, co-ed, and masters categories. The teams will pump their way down an 800-foot track, with times measured electronically to an incredible precision of 1/1000th of a second.
Adding to the spectacle is the event’s one-of-a-kind quadripede race—the only known competition of its kind in the world. This two-person event, now in its 11th year, challenges contestants to pilot a uniquely designed, four-wheeled, rail-riding contraption to the finish line.
(Folsom Times photos by Bill Sullivan)
The day wraps up with an awards ceremony, celebrating the top competitors in each division and commemorating the final official running of the derby.
While the competition is fierce, the derby is ultimately about community, fun, and supporting a great cause. Admission is free, and spectators are encouraged to come out and enjoy the races, located in the heart of Folsom’s shopping and dining district. All proceeds from the event benefit the Folsom, El Dorado, and Sacramento Historical Railroad Association, helping to preserve and share the region’s rich railroad history.
Those interested in entering the derby can find the official entry form online here or visit www.HandcarDerby.com for more information. As race day approaches, more details will be announced.
Don’t miss your chance to witness—and be a part of—history as the 32nd Annual Folsom Handcar Derby races into the record books one final time. For event details, call (916) 496-5032 or visit the official website. © Folsom Times, All Town Media LLC