Working brakes? Check. Inflated tires? Check. Functioning steering? Check.

Drivers, start your engines! Of course, these racers don’t actually have engines.

Saturday marks the sixth annual Victoria Canary Derby, a soapbox race to raise money for the B.C. Cancer Agency.

“This is really about helping cancer research, but it’s a lot of fun for the teams that get involved,” said Emily May, marketing specialist at the Canary Foundation.

Eleven corporate teams have designed, built and tested their soapbox cars, and are ready to put them through the ringer at Saturday’s event.

The name of the game is speed. The cars are all propelled solely by gravity and will race through qualifying heats along the pavement around the Vancouver Island Technology Park.

Cars and drivers will have to deal with hills, bumps and sharp curves along the 350-metre-long course.

Since 2004, the Victoria derbies have raised a total of $520,000. The aim is to raise $82,000 this year.

“What’s unique about the Canary Foundation is that 100 per cent of donations will go to … the B.C. Cancer Agency,” May said.

Not a penny in donations goes to cover overhead costs.

The family friendly event – which includes races, kids activities, music and food – gets underway at 11 a.m., June 18.

The races – from speed heats and free-style performances to remote control car racing – will run throughout the day.

The Vancouver Island Tech Park is located at 4464 Markham St.

For more information on the Canary Derby, visit www.canaryderby.com/victoria.

kslavin@saanichnews.com