Barrow is preparing for handmade vehicles to take to the streets racing through the town centre, with teams from local businesses stepping up their efforts to make sure they’re ready for race-day.
The event is being organised by The Super Soapbox Challenge Company ltd, after being approached by the Barrow Business Improvement District as part of their plans to promote the town as a sub-regional service centre and shopping destination offering distinctive choice of shops, festivals and events, as well as some of the best entertainment, leisure and recreation in Cumbria.
The Barrow BID Super Soapbox Challenge event will take place on Saturday 29 June 2019. Several entries have already been made by local engineering companies who are eager to show off their employees and apprentices’ design and construction skills.
Organisers say they are well on the way to securing the teams required, but there is still time to enter. Each team will build their own cart, adhering to the strict rules and regulations detailed on the event’s website here.
Team GB ski-jumper Michael ‘Eddie the Eagle’ Edwards will attend two events on Friday, June 28 at The Forum – including a meet & greet session and a talk about his legendary journey to the Winter Olympics in Calgary, 1988, before being in the first cart down the ramp in the town centre on Saturday.
Soapbox racing as a regional town and city centre event began in York in 2016 when a city traders’ association took steps to reverse a downward trend which saw a rise in the number of empty retail units and poor sales. Independent research found that more than 16,000 people attended the 2017 event, rising to more than 20,000 the following year, who spent a total of £1.2m on the day. The area of York in question, Micklegate, has since benefited from improved retail sales, no empty shop units and even boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Super Soapbox Challenge organiser Stuart Gladstone brings with him more than twenty years’ experience of working on high profile events including Le Tour de France Grand Depart, Tour de Yorkshire and the Skyride Mass Participation Cycling Event. He’s working with Andrew Pearson, a seasoned marketing professional with more than four decades of experience including a stint of working on Madison Avenue, NYC and for WPP PLC.
Andrew says, “The Super Soapbox Challenge Ltd was born with the sole intention of helping to regenerate town and city centres. The Barrow BID has recognised the need for some form of event to take place in the town centre. In fact, Barrow shares some of the same problems that York had, before steps were taken to make changes. As we now see throughout the UK, the huge increase in online shopping and many retailers favouring retail parks, has led to an overall retail decline leaving many well-known retailers struggling or, at worst, simply disappearing. This is amply but unfortunately demonstrated by the more recent announcement that Marks & Spencer is to move from Dalton Road to an out-of-town location.
“We want to see access to Barrow town centre made easier and more attractive for residents, visitors and workers throughout the day. Barrow BID’s goal is to see more pride taken in the town centre, filling empty units with new or expanding businesses and growing the town’s offer. In turn, this should establish Barrow town centre’s evening and night time economy as a welcoming, safe environment for people of all ages to enjoy food, drink and entertainment”.
Barrow BID Manager Colin Garnett witnessed the York event and signed a three-year contract for the Super Soapbox Challenge Company to organise a similar event in Barrow town centre to meet the aims of Barrow BID’s town centre regeneration plan. Colin says, “We believe the economic impact of the races will be significant to local businesses that weekend, whether they be restaurants, bars, hotels and shops or team entries gaining exposure for their businesses and charities”.
Chief Scrutineer Andy Ash – a British and European Gravity Racing Record Holder, is responsible for ensuring all carts meet the event criteria, not only in the build stage but also on the day itself. Andy says, “Having both raced in and been involved in a large number of soapbox races around the country, I can safely say that The Super Soapbox Challenge is easily the biggest and best national soapbox event. Nothing else comes close.”
The cost for a team of five to enter is £400 (£80 each) including VAT. A lower, non-corporate entry fee of £200 enables teams of five individuals, emergency services, Barrow BID levy payers and charities to enter.
Colin Garnett continues, “We recognise that, where £400 for a company to enter the soapbox race is not expensive for some, due to acquiring funding we were able to reduce the cost to £200 for groups of five individuals, any company paying the BID levy, emergency services, armed forces or charities with the aim of attracting more of these groups. Charities can also team up with companies and submit an application in the knowledge that their partner company will be able to assist with the build of the soapbox.”
Sean Maguire, Managing Director of Legend Club Management Systems took part in last year’s event in York. He says, “As a local employer it’s so important to be involved in the community. What a day it’s been! It’s incredible. I can’t get over the crowd. That’s exactly what we were hoping for – to raise money, to do something that’s meaningful but most of all, just to get a sense of being part of the city.”
Andrew Pearson added, “Barrow BID has shown great commitment to this event and we’re all working very hard to make it a huge success. Everyone is set to benefit. Local businesses will gain extra footfall and revenue while the public of Barrow and the surrounding area will be able to enjoy a fantastic, free community event, which we hope will also attract up to £50,000 in charity donations”.
The teams of five will compete not only for the fastest times but a number of other prizes including ‘most innovative cart design’, ‘best turned-out soapbox crew’ and ‘joker of the day’.
More details including entry forms and the full rules, regulations, terms and conditions can be found here and on Facebook here.
