“To all who come to this wacky place… Welcome!” This site features a few select images from my personal collection. We hope you enjoy looking back at the making of and the fun that was Knott’s “Wacky Soap Box Racers.”
-Eddie Sotto
DISCUSS your fondest memories of the ride on our Soap Box Blog and enjoy the original 1980 TV commercial.
“Wacky” Music and Sounds.
This ride had to have a very unique and manic “slapstick chase” soundtrack and we had no budget, so we used existing sources. Why not steal from the best? So our background music was provided by Henry Mancini. His “The Pink Panther” movie soundtrack provided many fun background musical themes including “Royal Blue”, the “Sandbox Bar” piano music loop.
“And there they go!”
As an inspiration, the wackiest announcer that has ever lived is Doodles Weaver, who broadcast a madcap car race in the Spike Jone’s classic “Dance of the Hours.” Perfect for our show. Guests would hear his opening call to drivers for each wacky race, right up to till you hit that fence! You’ll see how fun Doodles is and why we used him. I can’t believe all of this made it into a theme park ride!
“As seen on TV” 1980 Commercial.
Construction of Cycle Chase.
Marquee painted by KBF sign shop
Squirting Billboard.
Racing toward the crash doors!
Sound effects came from each facade.
"Manx" theater was inspired by a breed of cat once owned by my wife.
The "ball of yarn" rotated. The whole town was very animated with chasing neon, sounds, etc.
Motorcycle Chase
Aerial View Catnip Junction
Catnip Junction
Spike Jones soundtrack launched each race.
Neon marquees all animated
Aerial View Fireworks Factory finale
Gravity rules! Music by Henry Mancini!
Fan Art by Baron Von Genius!
First turn from commercial
Didn't have enough letters to do backside of movie marquee!
Bob Katz Garage
Marion Knott waves checkered flag! "Wild Bill " was KBF "Berry Wagon" Drag racer.
Unlike "Cycle Chase", anyone could ride.
Sound Effects came from this facade.
Fred Hope drawn Sewer elevation
Arlene Sotto with graphic. 1980
Sotto Family, Eddie, (mom) Arlene, and wife Deena
Sandbox "Art Deco" Bar
Pre opening banner 1980
Newspaper Office, The Only Co.
Catnip Junction
Interior Seamour Duds Fireworks.
Final turn, Fireworks Factory
Crash doors painted on site!
Sculpted by Joe Middione of "The Only Co."
Raceway ad original art. Eddie Sotto
Alter Ego. KBF decorator Del Langdale loved Pigs.
Del, Rick, Diane, Luanne and Eddie. The Design Dept. 1979
Sotto during construction
"Cat O' Combs" Facade
Knott's Cycle Chase
Gotta' love tiny towns playing "Catsablanca"
Catnip Junction
Note minimal restraint on "Cycle Chase"
Imagine an emergency stop!
"Cycle Chase" and "Gasoline Alley" car ride
Knott's kiddie facades inspired "Catnip Junction".
Back when we had tickets!
Still wacky 40 years later!
Kevin Lundstrom fan art
Carsten Bradley Fan art
Official limited edition Pin
Jeff Tucker fan art
Neon played a big part, these signs were animated.
Former Imagineer Fred Hope designed the Sewer facade.
My favorite sign.
The crashed car was our vehicle mock up.
Building the Fireworks factory.
Painting the announcer
This sign had a rotating wave and squirted the passing cars.
The sewer was supposed to have individual "pipes" you went through, but reach issues changed that.
Stenciling the Boxes.
A spin on the old RCA "His Master's Voice" logo.
Rick Campbell, my boss got an homage ad on the wall.
Rare shot of box "crashing" through a set of doors, just like an indoor dark ride.
Gravity competition!
"Catnip Junction" nears completion.
The first turn had sound effects of Spike Jones music.
Some boxes had wire wheels, other red or blue hubcaps.
Knott's Sign Shop did the marquee.
Before primer at Studio Specialties.
We named each box using real KBF pie tins, some were team members like Del Langdale.
Prettiest car ride of all wound beneath WSBR.
"Laundry" spanned the tracks to add color and continuity.
Real tin cans from KBF Chicken Dinner Restaurant had custom labels added.
First set of "Outdoor dark ride" crash doors
Wire wheels and corkscrew hood ornament.
Big crowds..
Aerial view of Catnip Junction
Shooting the commercial. Got to be an "extra."
Load area
With my father, another Ed Sotto!
We did our first million in 11 weeks!
Props awaiting placement
"Catasblanca" at the Manx...."we'll always have Knott's"
Supposed to have a "chicken coop" here, but ran out of time and money.
All built in modules and craned up to this level.
Inside of Fireworks Factory.
Painting California Billboard.
"Pre crash" billboard.
Our ergonomic wood mockup to determine the placement of foot blocks and other safety elements.
Placing the diner sign on the curve.
Awaiting placement
Note color board and original art.
Knott's Sign Shop had Ed "Big Daddy" Roth as a member, so hot rodding was in the DNA!
Bobby Iwanacki was our scenic superstar and did a fabulous job! We went on to other projects.
Aerial view of Grandstand Scene. Knott's Ride maintenance was below.
KBF Design Team. Del, Rick, Diane, Luann, and me.
Walking the farm
Blue Hubcap version
Love the sans "wacky" marquee
Joe Middione sculpted the Dog.
Fireworks Factory
Pre-Neon Catnip Junction
Installing camera for TV Ad.
Detailing the "Conductor"
Unfinished crash door "Bob Katz Garage"
Busy unload area
Nose to nose! Photo finish.
With Rick Campbell and Del Langdale at Knott's Event.
With other Imagineer Knott's refugees. Chris and Rolly Crump
2021. Merchandise!
Restored WSBR vehicle!