Photos from manitousprings.org

Humans love competition and this is evident by the various forms of racing throughout history. Mankind races horses, cars, soap box derby cars, and yes, coffins. Manitou Springs, Colorado, hosts a yearly event known as the Emma Crawford Coffin Races where racers design and decorate their racing coffins. Although this may seem like a morbid celebration of death, it is a celebration of love and the history of Manitou Springs.

The origins of the race originated around the story of Emma Crawford, a very ill young woman who sought healing from the Manitou mineral springs. Unfortunately, the springs were unable to cure Crawford and she passed away. Her fiance buried Miss Crawford at the top of Red Mountain, but her burial site had to be relocated thanks to railroad construction. She was laid back to rest on the south slope of the mountain, but after years of erosion Crawford’s remains slid down the mountain side.

With a better understanding of the history of Emma Crawford, the coffin races make a little bit more sense. Unlike a soap box derby, the coffin races require teams to have an Emma and four members to push the coffin almost 200 yards to the finish line. Although, these racing coffins looks like rat rodded soap box derby cars, but they are so much more. It takes a creative spirit and a knowledge of mechanics to create these racing machines.

Aside from the winning the race, teams compete for Best Emma, Best Entourage and Best Coffin. It is a bit like coffee and coffins, thanks to the parade of teams prior to the start of competition and a hearse show. Zombie patrol vehicles, hearses, coffins, rat rods, and other macabre vehicles cruise the streets of Manitou Springs during this event on the Saturday before Halloween.