Loughborough Echo

Brooklands Special celebrate Red Bull Soapbox triumph...

- By Megan Cox megan.cox@trinitymir­ror.com

A TEAM of amateur racers, who all work and live in the area, stormed to victory at this year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race.

Thousands of people watched the manic soapbox derby action unfold at Alexandra Palace, in London, on Sunday, July 9.

Despite there being an array of impressive teams, it was local team Brooklands Special that stole the show.

The team, which is managed by Mountsorre­l resident Ian Shonk, designed and built their own gravity-powered, engine-less soapbox vehicle.

The team was one of the oldest competing in the race, with ages from 57 to 66, and is made up of; Ian, driver Keith Rose, pusher Phil Densham, chief mechanic Liam Deville and Anne Gregory who looks after ‘glamour and dancing’.

The group have a passion for vintage cars and Phil Densham’s greatgrand­father raced at Brooklands for Napier Railton, and won the first ever race held at the circuit, driving the famous 24 Lt Napier Railton.

In homage, they built a half-scale copy of the car which weighs just under 80kg and is 8.5ft long.

Ian told the Echo the group already had some experience of racing as they run the Mountsorre­l Revival Soapbox Race but this was their first time “joining the big boys”.

The Red Bull Soapbox Race scores teams on creativity, performanc­e and the race itself.

Creativity was scored in the pits as a panel of judges visited each team.

Team Brooklands Special went above and beyond to create a historic replica of the Brooklands pits in 1936 - complete with wind-up gramophone and afternoon tea.

Each team had to ‘perform’ for 20 seconds at the top of the start ramp and, in keeping with the theme, Ian and Anne danced the 1930’s Charleston in period costume whilst the mechanics ‘drove’ out the Napier Railton.

Then there was the race. Driver Keith and the Napier Railton dashed down the hill tackling obstacles and jumps - with one launching the car three feet into the air.

Keith said: “I knew the jumps were going to hurt - but I kept my foot off the brake and just went for it!”

After giving it their all, the team were still stunned to find they had won. Ian said: “Standing at the top of the hill on a giant podium with your team, lifting the trophy and hearing 2,000 people go wild is a very surreal experience!”

The team and the winning car will be at the Mountsorre­l Revival Soapbox racetrack on Sunday, August 13.

Residents are invited to build a car and get involved. Details and entry forms can be found at: mountsorre­lcommunity-team.co.uk/mountsorre­l-revival

 ??  ?? Mountsorre­l racers team Brooklands Special stole the show and won this year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race at Alexandra Palace, in London. Pictured are the team posing for photos in the pits at Alexandra Palace. Image courtesy of Sam Densham.
Mountsorre­l racers team Brooklands Special stole the show and won this year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race at Alexandra Palace, in London. Pictured are the team posing for photos in the pits at Alexandra Palace. Image courtesy of Sam Densham.
 ??  ?? Mountsorre­l racers team Brooklands Special stole the show and won this year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race at Alexandra Palace, in London. Pictured are Team Brooklands Special lifting the winner’s trophy. Image courtesy of Sam Densham.
Mountsorre­l racers team Brooklands Special stole the show and won this year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race at Alexandra Palace, in London. Pictured are Team Brooklands Special lifting the winner’s trophy. Image courtesy of Sam Densham.
 ??  ?? Pictured are Ian and Anne keeping with the 1930s theme and enjoying a cuppa before the race. Image courtesy of Sam Densham.
Pictured are Ian and Anne keeping with the 1930s theme and enjoying a cuppa before the race. Image courtesy of Sam Densham.
 ??  ?? Pictured is driver Keith Rose flying the Brooklands Special to victory. Image courtesy of Sam Densham.
Pictured is driver Keith Rose flying the Brooklands Special to victory. Image courtesy of Sam Densham.

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