Burnley town centre to be turned into race course for big charity event

Budding racers have been given expert advice on building their own gravity-powered vehicles ahead of next year's Burnley Soapbox Challenge.

A free workshop at Burnley College on Thursday, October 15, brought together prospective competitors looking for inspiration and practical tips before the event returns to Manchester Road on Saturday, June 12, 2027.

Among those attending was seven-year-old Charlie Baldwin, a pupil at St Thomas's Primary School in Barrowford, who joined his grandad David Bolton, owner of D Bolton Engineering Consultancy.

The pair are planning to build a 1930s-style soapbox kart, combining a vintage design with David's engineering experience.

Five different soapboxes were on display at the workshop, demonstrating the range of possibilities for competitors, from a basic chassis costing £110 to more elaborate creations, including an engineered Chicken Run cart and an aeroplane part-inspired vehicle built by Safran.

Attendees also heard from scientists Mike Walton, Matt Maguire and Lew Wilde, the team behind the winning Mission Improbable soapbox, who shared details of their design, including handmade tubeless wheels.

The session, hosted by event organiser Murray Dawson, managing director of Scott Dawson Advertising, covered construction techniques, materials, safety requirements and competition rules.

Mr Dawson 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.”

He added that competitors did not need engineering experience or a large budget to take part, with the workshop demonstrating how designs could range from simple to highly technical.

Next year's challenge will transform Manchester Road in Burnley town centre into a racecourse featuring a starting ramp, water jumps, chicanes and other obstacles.

The event will raise money for three local charities: Healthier Heroes, Burnley Youth Theatre and Blaze Arts, with all team entry fees going directly to the organisations.

Aerospace company Safran has already signed up as a Gold Sponsor and will enter its own vehicle, while Burnley College is sponsoring the start line.

Teams, businesses and community groups interested in taking part can find details at www.burnleysoapbox.co.uk. A construction guide is also available at www.burnleysoapbox.co.uk/the-build-guide.