Shropshire Tourist Information and Visitor Guide

The entrance fee for spectators is £4 (children free) with free parking and a free Race Programme.

All the money raised will be donated to local disadvantaged youth related charities including: Teme Valley Youth Project, Café 27 at Tenbury Wells and Marches Family Network.

Spokesman, John Whittall, said “Not only are we expecting a record number of soap boxes – hopefully up to 40 machines – but latest news is that septuagenarian Ian Astley from Bishopstone near Hereford has rebuilt his record breaking machine following last year’s spectacular prang and is intent on breaking the track record that he set two years ago”.

He added “There has been tremendous interest in the soap box competition and entries have again been received from as far away as Pembrokeshire and Suffolk, as well as lots of local ones from the West Midlands including Herefordshire and Shropshire”.

The soap box course is 550 metres long and has a descent of 50 metres with fantastic views! With a bumper bundle of entries the event is again expected to be one of the most popular Soap Box Derby competitions in the country.

Other attractions on the day include: the Black Knights Rocketeers, Mower Racing, a display of competition rally cars by Ludlow Castle Motor Club, a parade of vintage cars, a paramotor display (if weather conditions permit), the Teme Valley Band, a free bouncy castle for children and a car boot sale. With a hog roast, burgers, baked potatoes, sandwiches and ice creams for sale no one is likely to go hungry! There will be drinks available and a bar for the adults.

If you want to sell any un-needed items and convert them into cash at the car boot sale call Ian on 01584 831139. There is no additional charge; all you pay is the entry fee for the Soap Box Derby.

Hanway Common lies 1 mile North West of the village of Richard’s Castle and the event will be signposted on the day from both the A49 and the B4361.

Visit www.richardscastlesoapbox.co.uk  for latest information.