The White Horse Soapbox Derby entertains thousands

Competitors driving 17 home-made karts took to the steep hill from the White Horse at Bratton in a bid to record the fastest time of the day.

This year’s winner was Richard Burton, from Ealing in West London, driving the sleek rocket-shaped Acceleramus blue kart in the fastest time of the day, 25.79 seconds.

Acceleramus also took the honours at last year’s event, except this year Richard’s time was recorded on a slightly longer and steeper course.

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Winning driver Richard Burton with his kart Acceleramus who took fastest time of the day in 25.79 seconds. Image: Trevor Porter 77065-8 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Mr Burton, who made Acceleramus, said he was a “one-man team”, adding: “It was a bit of a white-knuckle ride but very enjoyable.

“This was my third year at the White Horse Soapbox Derby and I thought it was very much better than the previous two years.”

Team Savage stormed down the course to take second place in a time of 27.59. Image: Trevor Porter 77065-20 (Image: Trevor Porter)

He was followed by Team Savage who stormed down the course to take second place in a time of 27.59.

Among the entrants were a bus-shaped kart, a hovercraft-themed entry, and a junior version of the American Willy’s Jeep driven by Dan Watson who managed to crash it spectacularly.

Driver Dan Watson loses a wheel and control the Willy’s Jeep entry on his way down the steep course. Image: Trevor Porter 77065-25a (Image: Trevor Porter)

Driver Dan Watson managed to escape injury after spectacularly crashing the Willy’s Jeep during the races. Image: Trevor Porter 77065-25c (Image: Trevor Porter)

Among the others taking part was Kay Pearce of the Maristow Chiropractic Clinic, who watched the event last year and wanted to have a go herself.

The historical engineering prize went to Landmarc Solutions, one of the event’s main partner sponsors.

The White Horse Soapbox Derby track is reputed to be the steepest in the UK with a gradient of 18 degrees and entrants taking three runs over the day timed to a hundredth of a second.

Local entry Kay Pearce in the Maristow Chiropractic Clinic kart celebrates clearing the chicane. Image: Trevor Porter 77065-17 (Image: Trevor Porter)

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Event organisers Westbury Town Council said this year’s course was on the opposite side to last year’s and was steeper, longer and more technically challenging than ever before.

For the first time in 30 years, it ran down from Port Way at the Bratton Hill Fort to Bratton with permission from English Heritage which manages the famous Wiltshire White Horse site.

Crowds watch the thrills and spills at the White Horse Soapbox Derby. Image: Trevor Porter 77065-18 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Event manager Ryan Child said the Soapbox Derby was a huge success, adding: “It went really well and there were plenty of thrills and spills.”

As well as the races, there was plenty on offer to entertain spectators, including live music, zorbing, kite flying, remote control car racing and a vintage funfair.