Colchester Soapbox Rally 2025

🏁 North Hill Is Calling - Are You Ready to Race?

📅 Sunday the 14th September 2025

📍 North Hill, Colchester

The Colchester Soapbox Rally is a high-energy day filled with creativity, speed and laughter. Contestants will take to the hill in hand-built, non-motorised karts, racing against the clock and each other in a series of time trials.

🚗 What to Expect

Creative Karts: Witness 52 teams showcase their uniquely designed, non-motorised karts.

Exciting Races: Time trials followed by head-to-head races in a tournament-style format.

Family Fun: Enjoy live screens across town, including:

• Mercury Theatre paddock area
• Jumbo Water Tower
• Culver Square
• Lion Walk Courtyard
• ALB Festival Area

Interactive Features: Including a “Bone Rattler” obstacle section & a water station where kids can soak racers with water cannons!

Food & Drink Stalls: There will be plenty to choose from!

🏆 Prizes & Voting

You can now vote for your WINNER!

- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall

- Best Kart

- Best Team Outfits

- Best Business Entry

- Most Entertaining

Vote via the InColchester App - download now!

🏎️ Get Involved

Contact us to enter a KART!

There are 52 spaces for teams to enter a kart!

Each kart will complete a solo qualifying time trial to determine seeding.

Following qualifying, teams will race head-to-head in a tournament-style format, including quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place play-off, and the grand final.

All karts are guaranteed at least two runs down the hill.

All karts will be having a safety inspection on the day.

All drivers will be given a safety briefing on the day.

For all kart rules - check our conditions at the bottom of this page.

2023 Highlights 🏁

What is a Soapbox Rally?

Think real-life Wacky Racers! The most famous example of a soapbox race is the Redbull Soapbox Race. Teams enter their handmade karts to go head to head in time trials to determine the winner. Use your imagination to decorate your team kart, build the fastest kart possible and navigate the ramps and obstacles along the track.

When is it happening?

The Colchester Soapbox Rally will happen on Sunday the 14th of September with karts racing as early as 11am.

Is it free to watch?

Yes! The event will be completely free for spectators. There will be plenty of space along the track down the North Hill for you to watch the time trial races and viewing areas around the city. There will also be food stalls and additional entertainment on the day for you to enjoy.

Can my business sponsor the event?

There will be marketing opportunities that local businesses can get involved with. For more information, please refer to our sponsorship pack.

Can I enter a Kart?

Registration for Soapboxes is open now! Take a look at the information below to find out how to enter and the requirements for your Soapbox. To enter, please email your interest to vincent@ourcolchester.co.uk

Is there a fee to race?

There is a fee for entering a team kart. BID businesses in the city centre can take advantage of a discount on their team karts. Contact us for more information on this.

Kart Conditions

Please note every Kart will be inspected by a Race Day Marshall and we will have a Drivers Briefing on the day of the event.
1. Gravity propulsion only – i.e., no motors, no pedals, no stored potential energy (e.g. batteries) or sails.
2. Maximum external length 2.6 metres and maximum external width 1.5 metres.
3. No protrusions of any kind will be allowed outside these dimensions.
4. Wheels must be of an inflatable tyre type and unrestricted diameter but must be within the maximum dimensions.
5. Working brakes that affect 2 wheels on the same axle must be fitted and tested. You MUST be able to stop your vehicle on the course – failure to do so will result in your dismissal from the event.
6. Karts must have effective steering to navigate the route.
7. Glass is not permitted within the kart
8. Karts can carry no more than two people, seated, feet facing forward.
9. No exposed sharp corners or edges will be allowed.
10. All items must be securely attached to the kart (anything that is likely to fall off will be removed).
11. Covers may be attached to the chassis but must be considered safe and secure on inspection.
12. A padded steering wheel or handlebar is recommended.(Exposed areas that may come in contact with head, face or body)
13. Karts may have between 3 and 6 wheels, with or without suspension.
14. No additional ballast is allowed in the kart.
15. The bodywork and the chassis should be constructed using recycled materials where possible,
but we strongly recommend a metal-based chassis – (build it well, so it lasts the day).
16. All karts must be safe (any believed to be dangerous to the public or the participants will not be
allowed to take part in the race).
17. All karts must display their allocated race number which will be provided on the day of the race.
18. No live fire or inflammable flares allowed on the karts, -all ‘accessories’ must be securely fixed to
the karts
19. Occupants of the kart must wear a hard-shell helmet with a secured chinstrap. Full-face helmets
are recommended (NB cycle helmets will not be accepted).
20. Legs and arms must be covered.
21. The wearing of gloves is mandatory, elbow pads and knee pads are advisory.
22. Occupants of karts remain seated and facing forward at all times.
23. Race Team must abide by reasonable instructions given by the event officials or marshals in the interest of safety and the smooth running of the event (this includes braking after the finish line).