After 30+ years, the Derby has called it an "End of an Era" after our 2025 event. Handcar racing is a sport that has been around since the late 1970's. Teams consist of 5 people, 4 pumpers on the car and a pusher, whose sole purpose is to shove the car off from the starting line. The Push Starter places his or her feet against a starting block and at a starting command, gives one mighty push. The Push starter releases the handcar and falls on a well-padded mat. With the momentum from the push start, the Pumpers go to work pushing down and pulling up the lever arm in unison. While size and strength are important, teamwork and rhythm are equally critical. Specially-built railroad handcars are used. Contests are always timed, either using photoelectric devices or magnetic sensors adjacent to the beginning and end of the track. Accurate timing is crucial as races are often decided by 0.01 seconds. Contests are usually held as time trials or side-by-side racing. Time trials are held when only one car or track is available, and the team with the fastest time is the team that wins. Side-by-side racing (infinitely more exciting) is held when parallel tracks are available. Like time trials, these events are timed, and the team with the fastest time wins; however, when racing side-by-side against another team, there is additional motivation to go faster. Races are held on weekends, either one or two days depending on the amount of teams participating. The Folsom's current course is approximately 700-800 feet long and is a single track timed course.
