Hunstanton Soap Box Derby: Thousands watch on as karts race down town's streets

rebekah.chilvers@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 16:13, 04 April 2023

| Updated: 16:26, 04 April 2023

Thousands descended on Hunstanton to watch as karts of many shapes and sizes hurtled through the town at the weekend.

A police car, a post van and a shoe were among the vehicles being navigated down the streets as the town's soap box derby returned on Sunday.

Back for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, organisers from West Norfolk Council said the event was blessed with sunshine, as well as thrills, spills and excitement.

Hunstanton Soap Box Derby 2023. Picture: Matt Usher/West Norfolk Council

Thousands descended on Hunstanton for the event. Picture: Matt Usher/West Norfolk Council

It was the first time Hunstanton Soap Box Derby was on since 2019. Picture: Matt Usher/West Norfolk Council

More than 5,000 spectators lined the town's hilly streets along the course that dozens of homemade karts whizzed around, starting on Greevegate.

A council spokesperson said: "Congratulations go to all participants who constructed karts of all kinds of wacky designs, shapes and sizes.

"And a big thank you goes to all those behind the scenes - council staff and volunteers alike - who worked hard all day to bring the event together so successfully."

King's Lynn and District Motor Club provided marshals on the day, meanwhile band Vex performed during breaks in the proceedings.

The event saw 40 teams complete two runs of the course, with the times recorded.

Lynn Police Cadets were among those taking part on Sunday, with PC Daniel Brock, of the Lynn Local Policing Team, said 12 of their 24 cadets were involved over the course of the day.

Jess, one of the cadets, said they had practised around the police station car park, but the event would be the first time it had gone down a hill – which did see it end up on its side for one of the runs, but police have since confirmed that both kart and driver were okay.

King's Lynn Police Cadets take their soap box round the course. Picture: Matt Usher/West Norfolk Council

King's Lynn Police Cadets' soap box ended up on its side. Picture: Matt Usher/West Norfolk Council

One of the 40 karts that took part in the event. Picture: Matt Usher/West Norfolk Council

PC Brock said: "It's great for everyone to come and look at the soap box and see what the cadets have been doing."

Participants from another team, Junk Monkey, had travelled from Holt to take part in the hope of beating their race time from 2019.

They said they were doing it "just because we can really" and a "bit of fun".

The overall winners of Hunstanton's Soap Box Derby were the Birkin Boys – a team made up of North West Norfolk MP James Wild, West Norfolk Council leader Cllr Stuart Dark and Charles le Strange Meakin of Le Strange Estate, who also chairs the Hunstanton Advisory Group.

The Bikrin Boys were also fundraising for Hunstanton RNLI, for which they have gathered more than £1,000 so far.

Meanwhile, Team Eggy took home the concours d'elegance award for the best-looking vehicle.