Surrey Research Park
Soapbox Derby

A soapbox (also known as a gravity racer) is motorless vehicle which is raced on a downhill road either against the clock or against another competitor.

Vehicles are constructed to be as aerodynamic as possible to reduce air drag and optimise mass and weight distribution for maximum speed.

While not a new concept, soapbox races became popular and brought into the mainstream by the Red Bull Racing Soapbox Race – a race that is organised once a year in which amateurs challenge each other by racing their hand-made vehicles, which are then judged based on their aesthetics, speed, and roadholding.

Since the introduction of the Red Bull Soapbox Race in 2000, it has been held in multiple countries around the world and draws in thousands of spectators.

For the Surrey Research Park Soapbox Derby we’re inviting businesses, engineering pioneers, tech innovators, and creative teams from across the Surrey Innovation District to go head-to-head, put their skills to the test, and claim the inaugural Surrey Research Park Soapbox Derby Trophy.

Through our Soapbox Derby we’re celebrating innovation, creativity and collaboration in our region, by bringing together the Surrey Research Park community and having run, creating memorable experiences and building connections across the Park and beyond.

1. ENGINEERING CHALLENGE: Take on a fun engineering and design challenge outside your day-to-day work.

2. CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION: Put your creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills to the test.

3. TEAM BUILDING: Support your team building goals by bringing colleagues together around a shared challenge.

4. COLLABORATION: Build something together and see how your ideas perform on race day.

5. NETWORKING: Meet and connect with other innovative businesses from across the Surrey Innovation District ecosystem and wider region.

6. A FUN AUTUMN BOOST: Break up the stretch between summer and the festive season with a unique challenge.

7. FRIENDLY COMPETITION: Enjoy some friendly competition with other companies from across the region.

8. ENGAGEMENT AND MARKETING: Showcase your company’s culture, values and brand by sharing the story of your soapbox journey, from first sketches and build days through to race day itself.

9. COMMUNITY IMPACT: Race in support of a charity, raise funds for a good cause, or give your soapbox a second life through donation, repurposing or auction.
FUN: Take part in a unique event that’s exciting, different and memorable, and have fun along the way.

10.BRAGGING RIGHTS: Compete to lift the inaugural Surrey Research Park Soapbox Derby Trophy and earn permanent bragging rights with a physical award to display proudly in a location of your choice.

The soapbox derby will be held on Wednesday 4 November. With the first run from 12 noon. Participating teams will be assigned run times. The soapbox derby will by 2.30pm.

Along with the main derby we will host the Surrey IN Motion vehicle technology showcase from 11am to 3pm, in front of the Surrey Technology Centre.

The soapbox derby course will use the Surrey Technology Centre visitors car park. This is a gentle sloping 75m track.
It’s a completely off-road course, creating a safe and practical space for the event with minimal disruption to public and Park companies’ operations.

Track Specifications:

• Approximately 75m track length
• Max slope 4.3 degrees (Median 0.9 degrees)
• Brick surface
• Slight camber

The Surrey Research Park Soapbox Derby is open to teams of up to six across drawn from:

• Companies based at the Park
• University of Surrey staff and students
• Companies and organisations in our regional clusters
• Surrey Research Park’s wider business networks
• Companies in the Surrey Innovation District and Guildford businesses that want to connect with Surrey Research Park.

Entry is free, and there’s no expectation to spend big. Some teams may choose to repurpose recycled materials and second-hand components, while others may opt for a more customised build. However you approach it, the most important ingredient is creativity.

The Soapbox Derby is also a great opportunity to bring your company’s brand, culture and values to life through a build that reflects who you are and what you do. You might even choose to race in support of a charity, use your build to raise funds, or auction your soapbox after the event to help reclaim some of the value from your investment and create a lasting legacy.

No. The Soapbox Derby is open to everyone, regardless of technical background. First-time teams are encouraged to enter.

Non-technical, creative and artistic teams are just as welcome as experienced engineers.

Success isn’t only about speed, it’s also about creativity, teamwork and showmanship.

We welcome our community to come and enjoy our lunchtime soapbox spectacle. The event is free and open to the public, which accessible track viewing space and nearby parking.

We want to ensure participants and spectators have the best possible time. But while there are many elements of the soapbox derby we can manage, the weather is not one of them. In the days running up to and hours before the event we will monitor the weather closely and any take any necessary action to ensure the safe and smooth running of our event.

We will also have contingency to use the covered underground parking area for the pit lane, showcase and catering, if required.

• Wednesday 16th September: Lunchtime Q&A opportunity and briefing

• Late September (TBC): Soapbox Engineering Surgery with University of Surrey experts

• Friday 2nd October: Absolute latest point for teams to enter.

We want this event to be inclusive, so if you do not have a team, please submit the form above and we will try and help you find a team to join.

If you don’t want to join a team but you are interested in volunteering to support our not-for-profit event, please email: srpmarketing@surrey.ac.uk to discuss opportunities.

We’re offering a range of packages to support this not-for-profit event.

Sponsoring the Soapbox Derby is a great way to put organisation directly in front of regional technical leaders and high-growth businesses, reinforcing your brand’s commitment to collaborative innovation and community impact.

To explore how your brand can play a central role, contact: srpmarketing@surrey.ac.uk.