By Jeanine Budd

Red Bull sent buses to Northeastern, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Tufts University for a ride to Providence, RI, where 61 soapbox teams competed in the day-long race sponsored by the company Saturday.

With plenty of energy drinks to go around, 10 students gathered at Chicken Lou’s on Forsyth Street at 10:50 a.m. They were bound for College Hill where the race was held.

Josh Minney, Red Bull’s student brand manager at Northeastern, planned the bus for the university.

“These kind of events are good for college kids because the Red Bull brand is always about pushing the envelope and trying new things,” said Minney, a middler international affairs major.

The bus encountered a 20-minute traffic jam on I-95. Minney pulled students off the bus and into traffic to give away free Red Bulls to frustrated drivers, many of whom seemed surprised to receive the free gift.

The students soon had to abandon the fun of running through gridlocked traffic and get back on the bus.

The event, which began at noon, had a large turnout, despite small crowds of students from Boston. Eventually, the buses from BU and Harvard combined with the bus from Northeastern to form a group of 15 students.

Upon arrival, the group squeezed to the front of the massive crowd to catch a glimpse of the 61 soapbox cars as they flew through the hay bales. Even with an area designated solely to college students, the streets were so full of people.

Northeastern, Harvard and BU students never strayed from having a good time.

“It’s camaraderie. It’s a lot of fun. I mean, I’m super stoked about this event,” said Catie Courcie, Red Bull student brand manager at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. She said the event brought students together, and gave Red Bull publicity.

Conor Kenrick, a sophomore business major, said he was pleased with the change of scenery and the opportunity to leave the city and spend time with other students.

“Overall, I’m having a great time today and I’m really glad I came,” he said.

In the soapbox race, creativity was just as important as speed. The audience witnessed everything from racing beavers from Canada to a team of flying Red Sox from Boston.

Dominick Roto, a racer for team “2 Pac-Man,” said style was the team’s main goal.

“We did really good, even a little bit better than we expected. We just kind of threw it together on a whim and did it,” said Roto, a junior psychology major at Providence College. It’s a community thing, and when you’re a part of a community, you should get involved. What else do you have to do?”

Several students said the event lacked excitement.

“This crowd sucks. They’re lame,” said Tim Miles, a middler music industry major. “Everyone just walks around, they’re all quiet. If it was more of a college event, I feel like it’d be more of a good time.”

Miles said that while there seemed to be many college students around, everyone was more interested in hanging out and chatting with friends rather than watching.

The bus of Harvard, Northeastern and BU students decided to pack up and head home before the event ended. The group arrived in Boston around 6 p.m.

Minney said events like this help broaden student entertainment options.

“It shows college kids to think outside the box and that conforming isn’t the only option,” he said.