Tools will be flying in Timaru garages as locals get geared up for the latest edition of the Alpine Energy Soapbox Derby.
Taking place on October 29, derby drivers will be faced with a new challenge this year with organisers taking the event back to its roots.
The soapbox derby has been an extremely popular event in Timaru for the last several years but had also been around previously before being revived.
In the most recent years, George St had been the preferred destination for soapbox action as thousands flocked to the street to see wacky homemade contraptions fly over jumps and avoid hay bales.
Co-organiser Shannon Hardacre said that this year however, there would be a change to that.
‘‘Back in the 90s when I was young, it used to run down Stafford St, so this year we are going back to that.
‘‘We had a lot of people asking if it could go back to the way it was.’’
He said the track change should make the event even more entertaining.
‘‘For the karts, it will be longer and faster, we know it’s a little bit steeper than George St and also skinner in parts.
‘‘We’re going to add our own little bits as well to make it different.’’
The annual event has been a stalwart fundraiser for mental health charities initially raising money in conjunction with Movember.
With the continued success of the event, Mr Hardacre said they now tried to donate the funds raised differently.
‘‘We look to support mental health groups that support mental health in Timaru.
‘‘In the past, we’ve given to Victoria Trust, AMPSS 101, and a few others, this year will be similar, we just want to make sure what we raise stays local so we can see and hear how it is helping people.
‘‘It can be sent up to the North Island or some big group and we never see or hear about what it did in the local area.’’
Mr Hardacre and fellow organiser Richard Brown have been working on this year’s event since May in order to sort road closures, insurance, and the everlengthy health and safety documents.
‘‘That side is finally done, now we just need people to get involved and get in the garage and start building their kart for the end of October.’’
Mr Hardacre hoped the popularity of the event would continue to be strong.
‘‘Normally we get a thousand people there to watch, corporate and kart racing attracts a lot of people as they’re the ones that go over the jumps.
‘‘There are also groups just there in the crowd that make it a really fun and entertaining event for the day.
‘‘It’s something that doesn’t happen enough in Timaru.’’
Spots are still available to enter a Kart, anyone interested can sign up on the Alpine Energy Soapbox Derby website or get in contact via Facebook or Instagram.
