After a break, East Allington Whacky Races is back this year, and organisers are reminded that karts need registering.

Whacky Races veteran Martyn Luckhurst has put together a kart-making guide for first-timers wanting to take part in their debut of this exciting event.

Martyn explained the best thing to do to create a great kart is “keep it simple”. “Your cart doesn’t need to have a metal welded frame with parallel steering and disc brakes” he said, “some of the best karts have been based on an 8ft x 4ft sheet of plywood as the chassis, with recycled bicycle/pram/buggy wheels. 

“The braking system can cause problems, so look to adapt wheels with an existing braking system like using front bicycle forks which will hold the wheels securely and will have cables with brake levers so you have braking on two wheels.  

“Remember, the braking system must be strong enough to hold you stationary on the hill start line without the cart being held back by anyone else. A hand brake system can work but would involve you taking one hand off the steering wheel to operate it.

“You must have a rigid steering system - not steering with your feet and a length of string! Your cart could be travelling up to 30mph and you need to be able to control it and not get a ’speed wobble’ which is where we have had accidents before.

“Test your cart thoroughly before the race. Does it slow down/stop when you want it to? Is the steering responsive? Do you have enough movement in the steering and steering mechanism to turn a sharp corner at speed?

“We have had a number of previous carts that had their test run on the first race......and they didn’t make it to round two!

“Make sure any decoration doesn’t impede the vision of the driver or come loose when the cart is racing at speed. Novelty carts are great fun and often look fantastic, but they still need to meet the safety requirements for the safety of the driver and spectators.”?All karts must be powered by gravity only, no pedals or sneaky engines allowed. The karts should be built with no sharp edges or loose glass, and competitors should wear a full facial crash helmet and gloves.

Just as importantly, the karts should be as wacky as possible. The crazier your kart looks, the better!

As in previous years, drivers will start outside the school and race down Churchill, past the church and The Fortescue Arms, finishing outside the Village Hall.

The Whacky Races is a day out for all the family with a BBQ, bar, bouncy castle, live music and much more starting from 11am on Saturday, September 30. Follow @eawhackyraces on Facebook for updates.

Entry for this year has reduced in price from £25 per kart to £10 per driver, and anyone interested in entering a kart should email [email protected] for an entry form and rules as soon as possible. Entries close on Friday, September 8.

All proceeds raised from the Whacky Races will be divided between the Devon Air Ambulance and local groups and organisations.