On your marks for launch of popular Hunstanton Soap Box Derby
The race is on to enter your whacky karts in this year’s popular Hunstanton Soap Box Derby.
All manner of crazy contraptions will take to the town’s streets on September 21 and entry is now open online to take part in the event organised by the borough council.
Places are limited and can be booked at west-norfolk.gov.uk/soapboxderby
Cllr Sue Lintern, cabinet member for culture and events at the borough council, said: “Thousands of people line the streets of Hunstanton to watch racers in their fantastically fast and creatively designed hand-built karts. Propelled only by a push and the hill down from the town towards the sea.
“This event has traditionally wrapped up the West Norfolk summer events season and will do so once again. First held in 1953, this event always draws a huge crowd to our coastal town. I look forward to seeing town businesses support and benefit from the carnival atmosphere and thousands of spectators it brings to Hunstanton.
“We had over 45 entrants last year and I would love to increase that number this year so please get designing and building your exhilarating racing karts, choose some wonderful outfits, and enter to race online through the borough council website. Spectators need to put Sunday 21 September 2025 in their diary too and please remember to get there early to a get good spot to watch all the crazy racing.”
The course starts high up on Greevegate, has a few twists and turns, karts will hop over a ramp, and end up on Beach Terrace Road overlooking the sea.
There are four categories that can be entered, by driver age:
Junior - Under 13 (10-12 year olds)
Junior – Under 16 (13-15 year olds)
Adult 16-49 yrs
Veteran 50+
Dave Curtis from Heacham has been entering a new kart in the derby every year since the event was reintroduced by the council in 2018 and he said: “This is one of the best and smoothest street tracks in the country. Teams come from all over the country, the love to come here.”
Charles le Strange Meakin entered two teams in the event last year and said: “We’ll have the Birkin’s Boys and the Birkin’s Girls again this year probably. We’ve got a fabricator on the team this year as well as an engineer, so it’s going to be fun. It may not win but we’re going to have a lot of fun building it.”
Teams can find out more information online and the closing date for entries is Friday, July 25. The organisers have said although there is a limit of 65, entries may close sooner if the maximum number of teams is reached before the deadline date.
