Excitement is mounting for the Soapbox Derby taking place on Friday 20 May as part of the inaugural Knysna Speed Festival. The Derby is being run on the bottom section of Simola Hill, which will be closed to traffic from 12h00 to 17h30 on Race Day. The action gets under way at 14h00 with practice sessions preceding the inter-school challenge. There are now 17 teams entered for the Derby.

Last Saturday the teams met in the Pennypinchers car park in the Knysna Industrial Area to assemble and test the soapboxes. All the materials, including the wood, wheels, axles, nuts and bolts where all sponsored by local businesses. Building started at 08h00 and most of the teams were already waiting, raring to go. Sponsors were allocated to the teams and the competitors were shown the safety equipment – helmets, overalls and protective gear – that will be worn on race day. There is going to be a prize awarded to the best decorated soapbox and some of the children had sleepless nights thinking of their designs! The youngsters responded enthusiastically to the help and guidance provided by the teachers, and some teams even went so far as to help their rivals when things got complicated.

Twelve primary schools will be competing in the event, which forms part of a number of events held round this year’s Knysna Speed Festival. Also on the Friday, from 14h15 there will be a parade of many of the cars involved in the festival – and especially the Hillclimb – driving through the centre of town before being put on display in the Waterfront, a cavalcade that over the last two years has proved to be a major attraction for residents and visitors alike.

For full details of the Knysna Festival of Speed and Renault Knysna Hillclimb, visit www.speedfestival.co.za and click here to watch a demo run of the Renault Knysna Hillclimb course.