2024 Hunstanton Soap Box Derby

Unique handmade karts will be racing down the street when the Hunstanton Soap Box Derby returns this Sunday, 22 September 2024, in a free-to-watch event organised by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk.

Karts will be displayed on The Green from 9:30am.

Before starting his commentary duties Simon Rowe, from Radio West Norfolk, will interview teams on The Green. Racing starts at 11:15am, 58 teams from across the country will get their first run of the course which sets off near the town hall, up on Greevegate, hops over a new improved ramp and heads down towards the finish line, overlooking the sea, on Beach Terrace Road.

When all the teams have completed their first run, at approximately 1pm, there’ll be live music on The Green from Vex.

Karts will then start their second run down the track from 2pm.

The Mayor of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Cllr Paul Bland, will wave the chequered flag when the last kart goes through the finish line at roughly 4pm. Vex will return to perform a second set on the Green that will be followed by trophies being awarded to the winners by the borough mayor, the Mayor of Hunstanton, Cllr Michael Ruston, the borough Cabinet Member for Events and Open Spaces, Cllr Bal Anota.

The first Soap Box Derby was held in Hunstanton in 1953. The event took place down the access road to the North Prom. It continued into the 1970s and then faded out. The borough council re-introduced the event in 2017.

Trophies will be awarded in the three categories, by driver age:

· under 13

· under 16

· adults 16-49

· over 50s

Teams finishing first, second and third in each category will receive awards.

A Concours d’Elegance award will be made to the best looking/most outstanding kart. The Champions Trophy will be the last awarded to the team with the overall fastest time.

The best times, and finishing positions for all teams, will be posted on borough council social media accounts and published on west-norfolk.gov.uk/soapboxderby on Monday.

People planning to attend the event are advised to monitor the council’s social media channels for up-to-date information, any changes to arrangements, or look for #HunstantonSoapBox.