What could be more "summer" or "kid stuff" than getting ready for a soapbox derby? Times may be changing and children may be spending more time with iPads, Nintendos or other gadgets but it seems the thrill of speed and competing can still make a young boy or girl skip out to the garage and start putting together a vehicle to race...

So it should come as no surprise that in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, a company recently decided to sponsor a derby on its grounds but using plastic cartons for the chassis. The eight teams competing had a tight budget and naturally a plastic carton 40x60 cms with which to make their vehicle go, go, go! Three weeks later and the teams were ready to prove they had the "right stuff".

Perhaps in times when supplies in the adult world seem to running short, we could learn from this small event and how they made the best out of practically very little. Perhaps it is time to see a fully plastic car compete in at the F1 in Monaco or the Indy 500?