Beccles Soapbox Derby Rules 2026

Rules and Specifications

Entry details:

• Teams may consist of up to 4 crew members. One crew member must be identified as the driver, who must be at least 18 years old on race day.
• Prizes will be presented to teams finishing first, second and third. There will be an additional prize for the best decorated / best looking kart.
• All karts must meet the Construction and Safety guidelines within this document. All karts will be scrutinised on the day of the event and any karts judged non-compliant will not be allowed to take part.
• Team names must be chosen when entering. Team names judged inappropriate by race organisers will not be accepted and an alternative name will have to be chosen.

Race Day:

• Teams and their karts must report to the scrutineering area (on Market Street outside Public Hall) by the prescribed time*.
• All karts will be checked by the event scrutineer. Karts must pass scrutineering before being allocated a race number. Karts that do not pass scrutineering will not be allowed to take part.
• All karts must be registered and have passed scrutineering by the prescribed time*. Late arrivals will not be allowed to take part.
• Karts decorated inappropriately will not be allowed to take part.
• Any team members judged to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will not be permitted to take part, and their whole team will be disqualified.
• The course will be from the top of Station Road to the bottom. The course will include a ramp and a chicane.
• Each kart will have two runs down the track. The team’s best time (not their aggregate time) will count. (In the unlikely event that no karts complete the course, the kart going furthest will be declared the winner). Karts will be checked for safety between the two runs to ensure that they are still safe.

Rules:

• Drivers MUST wear suitable footwear, have their limbs fully covered and wear a helmet with a chin strap. Drivers dressed inappropriately will NOT be allowed to race.
• The scrutineer and race judges’ decisions are final and may not be contested.
• Competitors must always follow the instructions of the organisers and race marshals.
• Participants must sign a waiver confirming that Beccles Town Council, race organising committee, marshals and volunteers will not be held liable for any consequences arising from participating in the Soapbox Derby event.

Kart Construction and Safety guidelines

The design of the kart is at the discretion of the builders, provided that it complies with the criteria below:

• Karts may be powered by gravity only – no engines, motors or pedals are permitted.
• Karts may carry only one driver at a time.
• The driver must be seated, face forward and control the kart using only hands and feet.
• The kart must fit the driver. Drivers must be able to get in and out of the kart easily and operate steering and braking in the normal seated position.
• Karts should have a clearance from the road of between 8cm and 30cm. This covers any part of the kart.
• Karts must have four wheels. Minimum diameter is 15cm; maximum diameter 65cm. Wheels may not be made of wood.
• Karts must have a system to keep wheels in place when racing.
• Steering system must be rigid (ropes are not permitted).
• Maximum kart length: 2.8m
• Maximum kart width: 1.5m Minimum kart width: 0.5m
• Maximum wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles): 1.9m
• Maximum kart weight (not including driver): 150kg
• Karts must have a braking system capable of slowing the kart in a straight line. The braking system must operate on at least the two front wheels or the two rear wheels.
• Karts must have a solid floor.
• Karts must not have any sharp edges or points or be fitted with any elements that may endanger spectators.
• Perspex or glass may not be included in kart construction. Otherwise, karts may be constructed of any material or combination of materials, provided that this leads to a structurally sound kart.
• Karts can be decorated in any way the builders choose, provided that the decoration is not judged to be inappropriate by race organisers.

Organisers strongly recommend that kart builders test their kart with their chosen driver before the race, including on a sloping surface, and ensuring that this testing includes the steering and braking systems.

Organisers will arrange an optional pre-event kart checking session two to four weeks before the race for kart builders to check that their karts are compliant.

If you have any questions about any of the above, please email events@becclestowncouncil.gov.uk