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Father and son win Soapbox Derby
26/06/2023
Carts can reach speeds of up to 55 miles per hour
Thousands of people lined the main road through Avon Dassett on Saturday for the annual Soapbox Derby. Nineteen adults and five juniors raced from the top of the hill on the edge of the village to a finish line in the centre of Avon Dassett.
The carts reached speeds of up to 55 miles per hour on the run down the hill. They were still travelling at around 40 miles per hour on the home straight to the finish line by the Yew Tree pub.
Sarah Richardson and Phil Baxter jointly organise the Soapbox Derby. Sarah said: “It’s gone fantastically. We’ve had thousands of people here and lots of carts, lots of fun.“
The winner of the adult competition was Paul Merry from Northamptonshire in his car M Power. Mr Merry completed the course in 38.68 seconds. His son Max won the junior competition in the same cart, passing the finish line in 35 seconds.
One driver was involved in a crash and suffered a broken foot, but he’s vowed to return next year, coming back even faster!
The drivers build their own carts. Sarah said: “It’s really, really competitive. I get emails all the year from the drivers telling me what they’re doing. They put so much effort in. The carts are pretty amazing.”
The competition’s youngest competitor, six-year-old Tyler, initially suffered a mechanical fault. Sarah said: “On his first run his brake stuck and so he was skidding down the hill, but he picked himself up and he came forth. He did a fast run on the second run down.”
Money raised by the Soapbox Derby goes to the Children’s Christmas Wish Foundation, which raises money for sick children in hospital.
The first Soapbox Derby started in 2006 and continued until 2015. After a short break Sarah and Phil revived it in 2018 and plans are already underway for next year’s event.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam