Burnley’s budding Soapbox Racers get read to roll following college workshop
From £110 chassis to award-winning engineering, would-be racers pick up expert tips ahead of the 2027 Burnley Soapbox Challenge.
Burnley’s budding soapbox racers have taken their first steps towards the starting line following a special Build Your Own Soapbox Workshop at Burnley College. Held on Thursday 15 October, the free event brought together prospective competitors keen to learn how to design and build their own gravity-powered racing machines ahead of the Burnley Soapbox Challenge on Saturday 12 June 2027.
Among those attending was seven-year-old Charlie Baldwin, a pupil at St Thomas’s Primary School in Barrowford, who came along with his grandad, David Bolton, the owner of D Bolton Engineering Consultancy. The pair are planning to build a 1930s-style soapbox kart, combining a vintage design with his grandad’s engineering expertise.
Their ambitious plans are exactly the kind of creativity organisers are hoping to inspire as they encourage people of all ages to get involved in next year’s event. Hosted by Murray Dawson, organiser of the Burnley Soapbox Challenge and Managing Director of Scott Dawson Advertising, the workshop aimed to demonstrate that anyone can get involved, regardless of their engineering experience or budget.
Five different soapboxes were on display, ranging from a basic chassis costing just £110 to the impressive Emerson & Renwick engineered Chicken Run cart and Safran’s aeroplane part-inspired cart, giving attendees plenty of inspiration for their own creations.
Among the highlights was the opportunity to hear from scientists Mike Walton, Matt Maguire and Lew Wilde, the team behind the first-place-winning Mission Improbable soapbox. The trio shared the secrets behind their unusual racing machine, including the ingenious handmade tubeless wheels designed to give their kart a competitive edge.
Prospective entrants were able to explore the different designs, learn about materials, construction techniques, safety considerations and event rules, and ask questions about turning their own ideas into race-ready soapboxes.
Murray Dawson, Managing Director of event organisers Scott Dawson Advertising, said:
“It’s fantastic to see people getting excited about the Burnley Soapbox Challenge and starting to think about what they could build for next June.
“Charlie and his grandad are a brilliant example of what this event is all about. I love the idea of them building a 1930s-style cart and taking the designs right back to how they once were. It’s fantastic to see different generations coming together, sharing ideas and getting involved.
“The whole idea behind this workshop was to show that you don’t need to be an engineer or spend thousands of pounds to take part. We had everything from a basic £110 chassis to some seriously impressive engineering on display, proving there’s more than one way to build a winning soapbox!
“A huge thank you to Burnley College, Neil Burrows and the Mission Improbable team for their support and for sharing their expertise. Hopefully, we’ve given people the inspiration and confidence to go away, get a team together and start building.”
The workshop was organised as part of preparations for the 2027 Burnley Soapbox Challenge, which will see Manchester Road in Burnley town centre transformed into a spectacular gravity-powered racecourse.
Competitors will tackle a course featuring a huge start ramp, water jumps, chicanes and other obstacles, with teams competing for glory in their homemade creations.
The event, organised by Burnley-based Scott Dawson Advertising, will also raise money for three local charities – Healthier Heroes, Burnley Youth Theatre and Blaze Arts – with all team entry fees going directly to the charities.
Global aerospace company Safran has already been announced as a Gold Sponsor and will be entering its own soapbox, bringing some serious engineering expertise to the starting line. Burnley College are also sponsoring the Start Line.
Murray added:
“We’ve got some incredibly talented engineers, manufacturers and creative people across Burnley and East Lancashire, and we’d love to see that talent on display next June.
“Safran has already thrown down the gauntlet with its ambitions to reach the podium, so now we’re challenging other businesses and community groups to take them on!
“Whether you’re going for speed, style or something completely outrageous, we want to see your creation on Manchester Road. It’s going to be a brilliant day for Burnley and, most importantly, we’ll be raising money for three fantastic local charities.”
The Burnley Soapbox Challenge takes place on Saturday, 12 June 2027, on Manchester Road, Burnley town centre. For more information about entering a team or becoming a sponsor, visit www.burnleysoapbox.co.uk. You can see the build guide online at www.burnleysoapbox.co.uk/the-build-guide
Healthier Heroes is a Burnley-based charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of veterans, serving personnel and their families through a range of support services, activities and community programmes. Blaze is a youth-led organisation that trains and creates employment opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to be the creatives of the future. Burnley Youth Theatre is a national leader in youth theatre and outreach with a mission to inspire and challenge young people to recognise their talents and raise their aspirations for the future.
