AROUND 20 kart daredevils hurtled downhill to the delight of more than 2,000 spectators at the fourth Brockweir Soapbox derby on Saturday (September 21).

The ingeniously designed home-built machines launched off the start beside the village’s Mackenzie Hall in brilliant sunshine, racing against the clock down ‘the last hill in England’.

Drivers had to negotiate chicanes and jumps on the steep descent with some spills along the way.

The magnificent machines included a WWI tank called Baldrick’s Balls Up, Tow Mater from the hit film Cars, two Bugattis, a mini-landrover, a flaming SARA lifeboat, a men’s shed, The Shard based on London’s gleaming skyscraper and the dragster-type K-oss.

Overall winner for speed, style, creati- vity and effort was Beachley-based construction firm Certus in their rib lifeboat in aid of SARA, complete with flaming engines, driven by Ben Mayo.

The ‘Shard’ kart of Bruce, Fiona and Duncan May of Brockweir Glass again proved fastest, with Lydney’s Steve Bearcroft at the wheel, with a final run time of 46.5secs, matching the record it set last year at speeds of over 40mph.

Fugazzi, meaning ‘fake’, was a Bugatti Type 51 kart driven by Rees Price-Williams from Chepstow, and was in hot pursuit after two runs of 53.2secs and 52.3secs. But Project 20 from Shrewsbury pipped them with a third run of 51.4secs.

Best designed kart was dragster K-oss, complete with roaring sound effects, driven by Jen Launchbury, while the Showmanship award went to the Baldricks Balls Up tank, driven by Brockweir’s Adrian Swanson.

Event spokesman Adam Sinfield said: “It went excellently again. There were around 2,500 spectators, and we hope to make over £2,500 for community causes. The feedback has been superb.”

Fastest junior karter was Steam Machine, driven by Jacon Bettle, 11, who just pipped Rampage, driven by Jonas Gow, 10.

Last year’s second fastest senior entry, The Blue Bug, driven by Brockweir pensioner Rob Brown, came to spectacular grief on the first run after flying over a jump and rolling.

Commentator Jonathan Cockburn said: “He was shaken and stirred, but thankfully not injured. There were a few thrills and spills and hay bales flying. And in my view it was the best derby yet, with huge crowds and great weather.”