Wacky Racers "Back on Track"

After four very successful Billericay Soapbox Derbies, we could no longer muster the manpower needed to organise and run such a major event.  Fortunately for Billericay, the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower (much larger with younger members) enthusiastically agreed to take it over.

Then Covid intervened, but in 2022 Colin Campbell, President of Mayflower, organised the 2022 Billericay Soapbox Derby on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday.  Not only that, but he took advantage of the long holiday weekend to organise a music festival for the next day - seven decades of music for the Queen’s seven decades reign.

Colin called upon the advice and help of Peter Greene, Malcolm Acors, Les Sheppard, Roger Kettle and others who had worked on the previous events.  Peter summed it all up: “We provided all knowledge and help requested by Mayflower, but the organising of the 2022 event was very much a Mayflower success story.  It involved a tremendous effort by all the Mayflower members involved and Colin Campbell and his team must be congratulated on creating a day which was universally appreciated and enjoyed by all who took part, and all who came to watch and enjoy the spectacle.”

“It was a pleasure to participate in such a well-run event, which despite the lower number of contestants, still drew in thousands of the public.  Looking around the field at the lunch break, there seemed as many people there as at our best years.  Mayflower are to be congratulated for such a huge success.”

As Bil!ericay Mayflower Rotary said: “Although there were fewer carts entered in this year’s Soapbox Derby than in· previous years, it did give the opportunity for more than one race per cart.  In fact, carts were able to have three runs each, with several trophies up for grabs.”

Heavily involved in the Preparation

We briefed Mayflower on previous Soapbox tasks, provided details of previous contestants (for invites to participate in 2022), and media contacts, ticketing strategy, ticket design samples, Poster and Flyer designs, Race Card/Program designs and content, PR strategy, and on-line vs. printed ticket sale numbers etc. 

In addition, we provided samples of all the previously used printed documents – judges’ scoring strategy and record cards, Soapbox scoring procedures, Soapbox marshalling process, Gate Control Manual, etc. Printed 2022 versions for this event.  Finally, we identified all the tasks necessary and how many people were needed, when, and for how long, and managed Soapbox scrutineering for four hours on Monday May 30 – staying a full four hours for the last arrival.

Race Day

Malcolm and Sue arrived before 8 a.m. to complete scrutineering, obtain every signed waiver, and clear all teams to take part by 9 a.m. before Malcolm’s drivers’ briefing and walk-through of the track.  Sue administered the processes, and lined the teams in sequence for their runs.  Malcolm ensured the track was clear before letting teams onto the track for their performance and race past the massed crowds, cheering them on from track side.

Peter organised the photographers for the day and ensured the hundreds of photos taken were uploaded to a common repository for Mayflower.  Roger erected the “Start and Finish” Rotary Scrims and managed the major task of installing the Sponsors’ Banners along the track before the first race.  He was helped by President Les, Brian, Mike Sinclair and a friend David Watkins (despite an early start at 6.45 a.m!!) and later by extra helpers from Mayflower’s “Big Eventers”.  Of vital importance, “Billericay Rotary” banners were placed by the track Jumps so that all key photographs - of soapboxes taking off over the jumps, featured Rotary in the background, ensuring maximum publicity for Rotary.”

One snag. Some sponsors hadn’t delivered their banners, but when these turned up, Roger quickly organised the helpers to fit them into available spaces - so all the Sponsors got the advertising they had expected.

President Les adjusted the trackside barriers to create the three Marshal positions and set out the hay bales to create the chicane, before holding the Marshals’ Briefing at 8:30. Once again the Youth Town Councillors had been lined up for this task and some of them had done it three years ago so they knew the ropes (or rather the flags – red for ‘wait’, green for ‘go’). Even better, the radios worked well this year!

As the soapboxes came onto the track Les and his team ensured the track was clear, and all safety provisions in place before allowing each Soapbox to start its run.

Memories

“After providing all requested information and documentation, my final contribution was to find three photographers to record the event with me on the day, three of us staying for the whole day.  It all went very well, and hundreds of photos have been taken and uploaded to a repository for Mayflower to draw upon for future publicity.  I was greatly impressed on how well the whole event ran – a great success”.  By Peter Greene.

“Mayflower turned the problem of a reduced number of teams participating into a “plus”, exploiting the opportunity to create more crowd involvement, completing a third run for every team AND introducing innovations like the Soapbox Parade.  Everything ran smoothly, the crowd enjoyed the event and Mayflower have a great success on their hands.”  By Malcolm Acors.

“The help was very good indeed and we put up the banners well within the time limit.  Minor problems were overcome speedily by all the helpers.  My thanks to everyone who supported us, their efforts are much appreciated and were a great help.  The visual impact of the banners and their positioning added greatly to the spectacle of the day.  Mayflower are to be congratulated on the success of the day.”  By Roger Kettle.
“The good news is that none of the Marshals needed to use their black flag to seek medical assistance - no crashes and no emergencies in the crowd. Looking around the field at lunchtime there appeared to be a good number of people in attendance and all were having a good time.

I was very impressed with the effort that had gone into creating the soapboxes this year. Noah’s Ark stood out for me, cautiously avoiding the jumps first time round but going for it on the other runs. The Spitfire was another impressive piece of work and the Hogwarts Express was at its usual brilliant best”.  By Les Sheppard