Krazy Races soapbox derby coming to Newbury this August
The town centre will become a racetrack this summer, as a soapbox derby comes to Newbury.
And the search is now on for the 40 fearless teams that will take on the challenge and race for glory.
Organisers of the event – which is being dubbed as the ‘spiritual successor’ to the town’s Crafty Craft event - promise “wild, wacky races” in the town centre, while also offering the opportunity to raise vital funds for local charities too.
In the first event of its kind in the town, Newbury’s Krazy Races will see a mix of individual, charity and business teams design, build and then race their handcrafted soap box in front of up to 20,000 eager spectators.
It will take over the town on Sunday, August 24 – the August Bank Holiday weekend - and is being run in partnership with Newbury Business Improvement District (BID).
A spokesperson for Newbury BID said: “Newbury BID is delighted to partner with Krazy Races to bring this thrilling new event to our historic market town this summer.
“As a spiritual successor to the much-loved Newbury Crafty Craft race, we warmly invite local businesses to join in the fun and showcase their incredible soapbox creations.
“We can’t wait to see the community come together for what promises to be an unforgettable day!”
The race route, which will head down Oxford Street and into The Broadway, will feature chicanes, obstacles, and thrilling twists and turns.
Alongside the excitement of the races, there will be entertainers, attractions and food stalls all set up in the town centre on the day.
Danny Scoffin, head of brand and strategic development for Krazy Races, added: “I’m thrilled to kick off the new year by announcing Krazy Races in Newbury!
“We can’t wait to bring this exciting event to the town and collaborate with local businesses. Over the years, we’ve seen incredible soapboxes, and we’re excited to see the creativity that Newbury’s residents and businesses will bring to the race.
“We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to our event partners, Newbury BID for welcoming us and making this event a reality.
“We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday 24th August!”
If you would like to follow in the footsteps of celebrity competitors, including Maya Jama, YouTuber Chunkz, and stars from The Real Housewives of Cheshire, just head to the website to sign up.
There will be a maximum of 40 teams able to enter the race, which will be run in a knockout style competition with multiple trophies and prizes.
Teams and spectators are encouraged to raise as much money as possible for charity, and later this year, the event will announce its official Newbury Krazy Races headline charity.
In 2024 more than 100,000 visitors across the country enjoyed Krazy Races - the UK’s largest touring soapbox derby - raising tens of thousands of pounds for good causes and Blue Peter even filmed a special episode at one of the events.
