The Soapbox Carty Race is just one of the contests being organised for the Grant Park 100 Festival
THRILLSEEKERS are encouraged to take part in Forres’ answer to the wacky races as part of an event to celebrate Grant Park being gifted to the town 100 years ago.
Teams are invited to make soapbox carts to be raced in Grant Park on Saturday, August 24, the day of the centenary celebration.
The GP100 Soapbox Carty Race is being sponsored by AJ Engineering and Construction Services and there will be a cash prize for the winners and another for the best themed/designed car.
The event is just one of six free competitions that people can get involved in on the day.
Jack Lowes, who earlier this year completed his graduate apprentice with AJE, is co-ordinating the event.
He said: “It‘s been great fun coming up with the concept for this part of GP100.
“The competition is open to anyone aged 12 and above, including grandads with past experience!
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for school friends to get together to create something fun. There can be as many people as you like involved in the design and construction of the cart, but only one driver and two pushers can participate in the race.”
The cart can only be powered by non-driving team members pushing it around the flat, grass track. No other form of thrust will be accepted.
It must be capable of being steered and have a minimum of four wheels. The main frame must be wooden.
A design example is shown in the competition details available on the GrantPark100.com website.
The race will run in two 30-minute heats, split across the day. The first part will be the quarter-finals, a knockout race where two randomly selected teams will race against each other. The winning teams from this stage will progress to the semi-final and finals.
Jack, who has a first-class degree in Design and Manufacturing from Robert Gordon University, added: “My advice would be to keep them as lightweight as possible and to avoid material that may ruin in windy or wet conditions - just in case!
“We’d also advise teams to reach out to local companies for sponsorship and for naming on the carty, just like Formula 1.
“Try GP100 supporters Moray Waste Busters at Waterford for carty wheels and other materials.”
Entries are limited to eight teams at https://grantpark100.com/competitions/.
As well as the Carty Races, other competitions include, photography, vegetable animal, digestive biscuit, floral art and decorated cake.
The deadline for registering on the website for all competitions is July 24.
Retired home economics teacher, Ann Rossiter, is co-ordinating the competitions.
She said: “They’re a great way for people to get involved in this fantastic event. There is something for everyone and all ages.
“All of the contests in one way or another have a connection to Grant Park or have a historical link to the town.
“For example, the floral art and vegetable animal competitions recognise the wonderful Forres Flower Shows which ran in the town for 90 years and, of course, the hard work of the team at Forres in Bloom who do such a wonderful job of keeping the town blooming.”
