The Crash Test Dummies, Team Tardis and the Brummy Brassy Racers were among the whacky karts which turned out for a scrutineering event as part of the final preparations for this month’s Krazy Races in Wolverhampton City Centre.
Wolverhampton Krazy Races takes place on Sunday August 21st and is the third in a series of free to attend events run by Sarah Belcher Events this year. It raises funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, as well as other individual charities supported by the racing kart teams taking part.
It is free to attend and the track runs from Queen Square to Darlington Street with the first kart taking to the track at around 10.15am directly after an opening procession at 10am. The scrutineering event was hosted by one of this year’s competitors MIDDAS Interior Solutions at its Halesfield base in Telford and gave competitors the opportunity to weigh up their opposition ahead of the big day.
Teams taking part in this year’s event include the Brummy Brassy Racers, from the City of Birmingham Brass Band; Chrisbeon Office Supplies; Collins Aerospace; I.T. Transport Limited; ABC Cars; and Team Tardis from Tardis Environmental UK.
Danny Scoffin, of the Krazy Races team, said: “It’s nearly here and we can’t wait to see all the amazing karts going for glory on Sunday, August 21st. It was great to see the karts at our scrutineering event and I would like to thank MIDDAS Interior Solutions for stepping in at the last minute to host the event.
“Everyone has worked incredibly hard on their karts and we are going to see a fantastic day’s entertainment when they take to the track.”
MIDDAS Interior Solutions are also a mascot sponsor on the day and will be racing to raise money for Macmillan.
Steve Jessee, the firm’s Managing Director, said: “We took part in this year’s Shrewsbury Krazy Races with a Lady Penelope themed kart and were able to raise around £2,500 for Macmillan. We will be competing for them again when we take to the track in Wolverhampton.
“We have a new Disney themed kart for Wolverhampton and despite it being an all-male team, our driver Tyler will be dressed as Cinderella and supported by a team consisting of Snow White, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty and Pocahontas!”
The staff at Chrisbeon Office Supplies in Telford are veterans when it comes to competing in the Krazy Races in Shrewsbury. Richard Hughes, a Partner with the firm, said: “The Shrewsbury event was amazing earlier this year with many thousands of people turning out to support it.
“We will be taking part in the same kart at Wolverhampton as we used at Shrewsbury and are really looking forward to it. We will be raising money for Climbing Out, a charity which is very close to our hearts, which provides outdoor activity programmes aimed at rebuilding confidence, self-esteem and motivation in people who have been through a life-changing injury, illness or trauma.”
The Crash Test Dummies from I.T. Transport will be raising funds for Brake – the road safety charity. Their kart was made in an office, which restricted its width in accordance with the dimensions of the office door!
Andy McLoughlin, Managing Director, said: “I decided to take part as I’m experiencing a mid-life crisis! Two designs were put to the team and they voted on the one which will see them dressed as crash test dummies based on the 1986 film Short Circuit.
“The kart has a hamster wheel in the engine bay because, as we work to find sustainable transport to combat the climate crisis, we believe this is the best alternative way to power vehicles!”
NGE (Next Generation Engineers) apprentices from Collins Aerospace will be raising money for Macmillan as well as the company being pit area sponsors on the day. A total of 12 apprentices were involved in creating their Batman-themed kart – five of whom will be part of the team on race day.
Craig Johnson, Business Leadership Graduate, said: “This is a first-time thing for the team where they get to put into action the things they have learnt in their apprenticeship. I’ve done something like this before when I was in college but the team hasn’t, so it’s great to see them all working together and enjoying themselves.”
In-Comms Racing, a second team from Collins Aerospace, will also be supporting Macmillan on the day. The team is made up of engineers and the theme of their kart will be Colin the Caterpillar with team members wearing candle outfits.
Tom, the designated driver, said: “We’re in direct competition with the apprenticeship team and both teams have kept what they’ve been up to a secret during the building process. It’s very competitive! The scrutineering event was the first time each team has seen the other’s kart. We see it as the current employees versus the next generation!”
Come and see all the soapboxes up close and personal when they take to darlington street in the heart of Wolverhampton at Wolverhampton Krazy Races on Sunday, 21st August.
For more information visit the Krazy Races website.
