Latest Soapbox Racing News

After the success of the second soap box derby last year, the third VW Camper&Bus Show Gravity Race takes place on Soap Box Hill at Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, Herefordshire over the weekend of the 30-31 July 2016.

Entry is free to all  those taking part. The derby is part of the camper and bus show a celebration of the classic VW Camper Van. £150.00 first prize.  Enter by emailing adrian.vaughan@kelsey.co.uk

There are no big secrets in soapbox racing. The very fastest racers all pay attention to the same basic principles; make it safe, make it sleek, make it steer and make it stop.

Although at first glance there are a bewildering array of different designs at any race, when you look more closely at the ones taking home the silverware you will spot several common features...

Adam is a Product Design student and is currently preparing for the GCSE next year by designing a product. Although most of the class are basing their designs on simpler things, he has decided to go for something a bit more interesting.

Having always been fascinated with soapboxes (gravity racers) he has decided to build a soapbox, and needs to get some background information.

He is currently researching the main demographics of people of build and race gravity racers (age, gender etc) and needs to gather some data, so he has created a short survey. It only takes a few seconds to complete, so please take a moment to help Adam with his project.

The vast majority of soapbox rules contain a requirement that all carties have effective brakes, and many specify a minimum force that they must be able to hold. This is commonly 50 KgF. The wording is typically "The brakes must be capable of holding the vehicle on a dry horizontal road surface, when laden with driver and any ballast, against a horizontal load of 50KgF exerted on the front towing eye.".

This has been adequate for most of the races up until now, but with racers and race organisers now increasingly looking for steeper, twistier and more challenging courses, the "50Kg static brake test" needs to be reviewed.