Saturday 5 September. Priory Gardens. Race day.
We're absolutely thrilled to announce that we're the main sponsor of this year's Dunstable Soapbox Derby. On Saturday 5 September, Priory Gardens will be packed with hand-built karts, big personalities, and a 100-metre track ready for some properly fast racing. Best of all, we're supplying the ground matting that keeps the whole event standing on solid ground.
The derby is free to attend and open to all ages. Teams from across Dunstable have spent weeks designing and building their karts, and no two are alike. Expect wild designs, clever engineering, and a healthy dose of friendly rivalry. Each kart races the clock down the custom-built 100-metre track, all chasing the fastest time and the bragging rights that come with it.
The creativity on display is half the fun. Some teams go for raw speed, stripping their karts back to the bare essentials. Others go all-in on looks, with everything from racing car replicas to outlandish creations that barely stay upright. Every kart passes a safety check before it lines up, so the competition stays fierce but fair.
It's far more than a race. A giant screen beams the action out live all day, so nobody misses a single run. Live music, food stalls, and a licensed bar keep the atmosphere going, and once the last kart crosses the line, the day closes with an outdoor cinema screening as the sun goes down. Bring a chair, pack a picnic, and make a day of it.
Our job is the ground matting. Priory Gardens is a much-loved green space, and a few thousand visitors in one afternoon is a real test for the grass. That's where PowerTrax 40 comes in. These interlocking rubber mats form the full 100-metre track, with corner pieces fitted at every turn to keep the edges flush and the surface smooth. They protect the grass beneath the racing line, so the park looks as good on Monday morning as it did before the karts arrived.
Matting matters for more than just the grass. A level, solid surface gives every team the same racing line, so the fastest kart really does win. It also keeps the track safe underfoot for the crews, marshals, and photographers who work alongside it all day. Without it, a busy afternoon and thousands of pairs of feet can turn soft ground into a slippery, uneven mess.
Supporting an event like this matters to us. We work on construction sites and festivals up and down the country, but there's something special about backing a community event that brings a whole town together. Soapbox derbies are family fun at its best: local teams, big characters, and a whole town willing them down the track.
Here are the details:
- When: Saturday 5 September, from 12 noon until 8pm
- Where: Priory Gardens, 33 High Street South, Dunstable, LU6 3RZ
- Entry: free and open to all ages
- Parking: Ashton Square and Church Street car parks
- On site: step-free access, first aid, toilets, water refill station, food vendors, and a licensed bar
For the full line-up and facilities, visit the official event page on the Dunstable Town Council website: Dunstable's Soapbox Derby.
We'll be trackside all afternoon, so come and say hello. And if you're planning an event of your own, we'd love to help with the ground protection.
Products mentioned in this article
- PowerTrax 40 — heavy-duty rubber ground mats for the 100-metre track, with corner pieces for flush, safe edges
You may also be interested in
- Essential Walkways for Outdoor Event Planning: how to plan safe, accessible pedestrian routes for any outdoor event.
- Why Every British Festival Needs a Rain Plan: why ground protection is the difference between a washout and a great day.
- Top 10 Ground Protection Essentials for the Events Industry: a practical guide to protecting event sites with sustainable, safe trackway.
Contact our team to discuss ground matting hire for your event.