On the Whitsun weekend, Saturday 30th and Whit Sunday 31st May, the "Oldtimer in Obwalden", or "O-iO" for short, will take place for the 21st time in Sarnen and the surrounding area. The O-iO is a real folk festival thanks to its many attractions, including a soapbox race on Saturday. The racing boxes, which are powered purely by gravity, will be built from April 6 - 11, 2020 by students who are about to choose a career.
Soapboxes as a project to promote young talent
This will not only get young people excited about a craft, but also about cars. As the race is fully integrated into the O-iO event, the young people will come into close contact with classic cars.
Some information about this unique joint project between the municipality, school and Sarnen's business community, which took place for the first time in 2018:
- 80 pupils (30% more than in 2018).
- 12 teams build 12 soapboxes (2 more than in 2018).
- Supervision of the 12 teams by the school throughout the entire project week.
- Logistics by the Sarnen municipal service.
- 23 Sarn businesses take part (8 more than in 2018).
The support for the soapbox initiative in Sarnen is huge; a demo soapbox recently even received an electric drive and lighting.
Free of charge and for the people
The O-iO event is free for spectators and thus helps to anchor the classic car scene in the population. (For the same reason, O-iO will also have a stand at the LUGA from April 24 - May 3, 2020).
For participants with classic cars (please register!), "Oldtimer in Obwalden" offers stops on Saturday in Sarnen and on Whit Sunday in Brienz am See. Scenic routes on both days, with many spectators along the route, complete the program of the O-iO event, which is extremely popular with classic car owners and spectators of all ages.
Further information on the event and registration can be found on the Oldtimer in Obwalden (O-iO) event website.
