Roll up, Roll up, entry to Beat The Tide and the Soap Box Derby is now open!

On Wednesday, 21st May, The Hunstanton Events team launched the forthcoming Beat The Tide and Soap Box Derby.

Beat The Tide is a beach fun run for everyone and takes place on Sunday, 8th June from the Alive Oasis in Hunstanton, where runners can take part in either a 5k or 10k race, to Heacham and back with everyone finishing receiving a medal.

KL1 radio will also be in attendance to compere the event, which usually attracts over 200 runners. The morning starts with a mass warm-up from 9am. New Hunstanton Events spokesperson, Jess Pearce, commented, “we are really looking forward to this year’s run after it was successfully re-introduced last year”.

Standing from left: Stormy Sam, Jessica Pearce and Cllr Sue Lintern, Cabinet member for Events and Culture, kneeling: Jacqueline Merralls

Borough Councillor for King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Sue Lintern, was in attendance at the launch and said: “You can’t get a more stunning location for this event which raises money for a very good cause, the RNLI”.

Jackie Merralls and Stormy Sam

Jacqueline Merralls, Volunteer fundraiser for the Hunstanton and West Norfolk RNLI Guild, added; “The RNLI here is very much part of the community, the crew live a very short distance away. They’re all volunteers, the majority of them are family people who are on call 24/7. They’re our people in our community.

Dave Curtis,  Cllr Sue Lintern, Cabinet member for Events and Culture and Jessica Pearce

The Hunstanton Soap Box Derby also launched, with local racer, Dave Curtis, and Charles le Strange Meakin promoting the event. This year’s extravaganza will take place on Sunday, 21st September. 

The crowds in 2024

The popular event attracts over 50 racers each year in an array of outrageous outfits and karts, with over 6,000 spectators expected to line the streets to cheer them on. There are always thrills and spills, particularly at the half way point, where the drivers have to decide whether to negotiate a tight chicane or risk the hazardous jump, much to the delight of the baying onlookers.

Charles le Strange Meakin in the 2024 event

Charles le Strange Meakin, whose team, Birkin’s Boys, won the race two years ago, said: “When we won it was a complete fluke, so proves it appeals to all levels of abilities and ages. It really is all about the fun though so I encourage people to get building their karts and entering”. Meakin will be again entering this year’s event, noting, “We also have a Birkin’s girls team, so watch out!”.

To apply for either event, please visit www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/hunstantonevents .

Dave Curtis is also promoting an induction to Karting to all Norfolk schools. He is particularly keen to raise awareness to youngsters locally, encouraging them to get involved in the sport. It is a fitting gesture as the first ever Hunstanton Soap Box race was organised by a local school teacher, Frank Hartnell, as a challenge to his charges at St. Christopher’s Children’s Home in 1953.

Similar to a project he has already launched in Essex, Dave visits your school and runs a presentation and induction, before the children go away and design and build their own kart, which they then race on a 24 foot portable track in front of the whole school - an excellent end of term or year idea.

Dave said, “it really is great fun and teaches the children about teamwork, design and karting. Who knows we may even have the next Lewis Hamilton in the making who, of course, started out in karting”.

For more information, you can contact Dave by phone on 07795 144209 or by email at Dave@jaz-d.com .