Sandwich firm on a roll in city’s first soapbox challenge
ABOUT 15,000 people packed into the city centre for Bradford’s first Super Soapbox Challenge.
The home-made kart-racing event was formally kicked off by Bradford City footballer Matty Foulds.
Jonny Noble, manager of the Bradford Business Improvement District (BID), which commissioned the event, said: “Probably the comedy moment of the day was Bradford City who only got off the ramps once in three attempts.
“The Anthill Mob went over on a corner but no one was injured.”
More than 20 karts took part in the derby, which started from a ramp on Kirkgate, near the Bradford Mechanics Institute, and finished at the bottom of Ivegate.
Mr Noble said he hoped the race – which was aimed at increasing footfall in the city for businesses on a Sunday – would now become an annual event.
“The success of today means it can’t not be an event next year but we will be looking for more sponsorship.”
The Green Arrow kart was the quickest, completing the city centre course in just 32.26 seconds.
Meanwhile the prize for the most innovative kart went to Eat My Crust, by Tiffin Sandwiches, which had the same triangular shape as sandwich packaging and was hailed as “really clever marketing”.
BID chairman Ian Ward said soapbox derbies were increasingly popular events, and were good for business as well as “bringing in lots of families for a fun-packed day-out and leaving a lasting feelgood impression on visitors from further afield”.
The BID, which is paid for by a levy on eligible businesses and raised income of £635,000 last year, finishes its five-year term next year.
A fresh ballot is due to take place next September.