For Racers and Riders

Colchester Soapbox Rally returns to Colchester High Street on Sunday 15th September 11am - 7pm.

Last year the rally brought together 300 participants, 48 non-motorised, handmade contraptions and more than 8000 visitors across the city.

Nigel Lampiere, CEO and Tony Smith, COO of TECNIQ shared their thoughts on their team’s 2023 win.

“We were very proud to be part of last year’s Colchester Soap Box Rally. A very well-organised and fun event and a great opportunity for our engineering apprentices, who designed, built and ran the karts, taking first and second on the day. A fantastic local event to be involved in.”

This city-centre spectacle is about much more than just time trials. In 2023 we saw flying fish, chariots, dinosaurs, minions and more. Costumes and performance are all part of the fun, and the array of awards this year will recognise creativity and flair as well as speed.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ENTRY CONDITIONS FOR TEAMS ENTERING THE COLCHESTER SOAPBOX RALLY

🏆Lots of chances to win🏆

1. Time Trials 1st, 2nd and 3rd

2. Best Kart

3. Best Team Outfits

4. Best Business Entry

5. Most Entertaining

🚗 BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE 🚗

For Spectators

We can't wait to welcome you to our second ever Colchester Soapbox Rally. Make sure to plan your travels ahead of time, if you live close by we recommend enjoying a nice sunny (fingers crossed) walk or cycle into the city centre.

We will be releasing the schedule of the day closer to the time so you can time your trip just right! Keep an eye on this page or visit our socials to find out more.

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.

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.

When is it happening?

The Colchester Soapbox Rally will happen on Sunday the 15th 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 high street for you to watch the time trials and viewing areas around Culver Square. There will also be food stalls and additional entertainment on the day for you to enjoy.

Are there any rules for the karts?

Yes there will be guidelines on how you can build you karts and what's allowed to race. These will be released alongside the registration form for entries. Take a look below for more information.

Is there a fee to race?

The fee for entering a team kart is £75. BID businesses in the city centre can take advantage of a discount on their team karts. Get in contact with the Colchester BID team to receive this. Entries are non-refundable.

Why is the race happening on the High Street and not on North Hill/East Hill?

Contrary to popular belief the high street isn't flat - we've selected this course, and built a ramp to help too, as it provides the best of all worlds for racing. It's central to the city centre making it easier for access, diverted traffic can still move around the city centre with ease.

North Hill and East Hill are very steep! There would have to be some very serious health and safety considerations for these race locations, and a way to ensure all karts are able to safely stop (and not just keep going into traffic!). They are also main thoroughfares for traffic, closing either North Hill or East Hill would create issues for traffic flow around the city centre.

The high street also offers greater options for viewing for those with additional accessibility needs.