Amateur racers earn spot in Red Bull Soapbox race
A TEAM of amateur racers, who all work and live in the area, are to be watched by thousands of people as they compete in this year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race.
Team ‘Brooklands Special’ will be representing Loughborough in hopes of racing victory at Alexandra Palace in London on Sunday, July 9.
The team, which is managed by Mountsorrel resident Ian Shonk, has designed and built their own gravity-powered, engine-less soapbox vehicle along the lines of a vintage theme.
Ian told the Echo the team is one of the oldest competing in the race, with ages from 57 to 66, and is made up of; himself, driver Keith Rose, pusher Phil Densham, chief mechanic Liam Deville and Anne Gregory who looks after ‘glamour and dancing’.
All of them have a passion for vintage cars and Phil Densham’s great grandfather raced at Brooklands for Napier Railton, and won the first ever race held at the circuit, driving the world famous 24 Lt Napier Railton.
In homage, they have built a halfscale copy of the car which weighs just under 80kg and is around 8.5ft long.
The team already have some experience of racing this type of vehicle as they run the Mountsorrel Revival Soapbox Race.
Ian, who set up Mountsorrel Revival four years ago, told the Echo: “We wanted to join the big boys! We submitted an application to take part with a video of us introducing who we are and what we do and we got picked.
“Around 70 teams have been picked out of 4,000 applications.
“You get 80 days, from the time they release the teams that are to race, to build.
“The four of us have been working for about four hours each week and the for the last three weeks we’ve been working Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“It takes an awful long time to construct but we have an absolute ball doing it.”
Ian told the Echo the community has supported the team, with some businesses donating materials that have gone into making the miniature Napier Railton.
He said: “We’re really grateful to local companies that have provided support and sponsorship.
“Various people have wanted to get involved because it’s such a fun thing to do.”
Ian said Brooklands Special’s vehicle has been tested at various speeds and has tackled a number of jumps in preparation of the race.
When asked what the soapbox’s pitfalls are, Ian joked: “We have no weaknesses!”
The team have also had to come up with a 20-second pre-race performance which Ian revealed contains 1930s BBC style voice overs and The Charleston.
The Red Bull Soapbox Race will air on Dave on Sunday, July 9 between 5pm-8pm.
For more information on Brooklands Special, visit: www.redbullsoapboxrace.com/ uk/ en/ team/ brooklands-special-2
And if you fancy having a go at soapbox racing yourself, The Mountsorrel Revival, which takes place Sunday, August 13, is still accepting entries. Visit mountsorrel- community- team. co. uk/ mountsorrel-revival for more.