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Petroc’s Barnstaple Grand Prix

Petroc has organised the first ever Barnstaple Grand Prix for Sunday August 14.

The town centre is the setting for fast and furious pedal car and lawn mower racing, as competitors hurtle around a specially designed riverside circuit.

The college has organised the event, working in partnership with Bid Barnstaple and lead sponsors Babcock International Group PLC, to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West.

As well as all the action on the track, there will also be entertainment and live music on The Square, featuring The Confused, Midnight Toys, Maybe Naked and Severe Zero.

Petroc’s race organiser Louise Laing said: “It’s great to be part of an event that puts the fun into fundraising and brings something completely new to North Devon.

“It might not be the high octane world of Formula 1 but the drivers in our Grand Prix are every bit as determined to be first to the chequered flag as Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button and there will definitely be more laughs.

“This promises to be a hugely enjoyable day and we’re hoping for big crowds of supporters and spectators.”

Competitors will be on the grid from 11am, when pedal car and lawn mowers enjoy warm up laps. Racing starts at 12 noon.

The live music starts at 1:30pm and finishes at 6pm with trophies and medals being presented on stage at 5pm.
Spectators can visit the teams’ paddock area in the Civic Centre car park. 

“We’ve got teams to rival the likes of McLaren, Williams Red Bull,” Louise added.

“Babcocks have applied their engineering expertise to the pedal car and the Children’s Hospice South West have also entered as ‘Dick Dastardlys DoGooders’.

“I also recommend looking out for the ‘Piggy’s Peddlers’, a pedal car team of young people from the Forches Youth Club.

“They’ve shown immense motivation and commitment to this project, including starting a fitness programme to ensure they are as fit as possible on the day. You certainly won’t miss the hugely imaginative team branding!”

There are 16 teams entered in the lawn mower racing which will prove a definite spectacle as they contend with the chicanes on the track, which takes in The Strand, Commercial Road, North Walk and Castle Street.

Look out for the Westerly Barnstaple Mini pace car which will be out and about around the town on Saturday August 13 and will also precede the first of the races on the Sunday.

Other local businesses supporting the event include Kafe Karumba, North Devon Homes and Dainton Storage.
To find out more – including how to enter the races – visit www.petroc.ac.uk/pedalcar