RICHARDS CASTLE SOAPBOX DERBY

One for adrenaline rush lovers. It may not be a very long course but it can sure pack a punch.

You can set up camp on Saturday night, and if you get there before 7:30, you can have your kart checked out. If not, you'll need to do that early on Sunday morning. Make sure that you have that steering wheel ROP hoop in place as specified in the rules – it’s strictly enforced. If the weather’s on your side, the views are absolutely stunning, especially when the sun starts to set. And even on those not-so-great evenings, there's something pretty wild about the experience—though it might not be what you’d call “fun.” Just a heads up, everything's on a hillside without any trees, so you’ll be at the mercy of whatever the weather decides to throw at you. The good news? For the last six years, it’s been dry and warm on race day!

The track itself is about 2 meters wide and is basically a private road leading to a farm. It used to be well taken care of and smooth, except for the first bit. Lately, though, the lower part of the road has seen better days. There’s a safety briefing at around 9:30, just before the real action kicks off. What’s unusual is there’s a lunch break so you have time to grab a bite from all the food stalls. Most years, you can check out some vintage or rally car parades, followed by exciting lawnmower or autograss races. And keep an eye out in the spectator area—you might catch some crazy demonstrations from chainsaw artists! Soapbox racing gets going again around 2:00 PM and runs for another hour and a half. Tons of prizes are up for grabs too, like fastest run, fastest overall, most innovative design, and the most sponsorship raised.

The runs start in the pits where you’re lifted to the top of the course. First thing in the morning, there’s a bit of a mad rush to load up on the trailers, but it’s all done in that classic polite British way. Make sure to tie your kart down, as it can get pretty bumpy on the way up. Once you’re off the trailer, you’ll push through a working barn and then line up for the start ramp. There’s plenty of help to give you a nudge up the ramp, and when the nose of your soapbox is resting against the pivoting gate, you know you’re ready to roll. The start marshal keeps track of your runs; most years, it’s one practice run that doesn’t count and then five timed runs. When the gate drops, you’re off, and the clock starts the moment you cross the beam at the bottom of the ramp!

The first 75 meters are pretty flat but bumpy, so watch out for those nasty potholes. You won’t see much of the course at first because there's a tall hedge on the left blocking your view. Then you hit a sharp left turn, and suddenly it feels like the whole of England is laid out in front of you! Your kart will take off like a rocket since the slope here is a steep 16%. After that first stretch, you’ll zip through a left-right chicane (no need to hit the brakes) and then brace yourself for the biggest challenge just 75 meters down the track. There’s a tall hedge separating the upper part of the course from the lower, and you’ll squeeze through a narrow gateway made of steel plate covering a cattle grid. Right after that, you’ll need to make a quick left kink, which means you’ll have to start turning while still on that slippery steel plate—good luck getting any grip, even when it’s dry! My advice? Brake a little until you feel brave enough to tackle that turn without slowing down. The slope is not as steep here but still around 10%. About 100 meters later, you’ll hit the last chicane before rounding out a medium 70-degree left corner. You might want to give the brakes a gentle tap to settle the kart since you’ll be zooming around at close to 50mph. The finish line is just 50 meters after that corner. Don’t forget to brake and roll on over to the loading area for another go! If you’re quick about it, you can squeeze in four runs before lunch and two more after. Prize giving is set for around 4:00 PM, and you’ll be heading out by 5:00 PM.