Taking place on a very, very hot day recently (Sunday, 13th July), thousands of spectators flocked to Ringwood to watch competitors – including a 3rd Ringwood Scouts team – racing around the town centre streets during the annual Pedal Car Grand Prix.
Originally a bi-annual rivalry between Ringwood and it’s twinned French town of Pont-Audemer, this popular event has more recently been contested between Ringwood and New Milton.
The pedal cars are a variety of (mostly) lightweight, well engineered, 4 wheel, cycle geared, streamlined vehicles – often displaying the ingenuity of their creators.
With roads closed for the day, spectator barriers in place, and the morning’s scrutineering and practice sessions completed, the two hour race took place on a circuit encompassing the Market Place, High Street, Southampton Road, and the Furlong.
Cheered on and encouraged by throngs of spectators around the entire course, thrills and spills ensued as 23 teams of 4 adult drivers, and the 2 junior teams, took turns to navigate their pedal cars around some tight corners, narrow paths, and occasional cobblestoned pavements.
Some teams take the event far more seriously than others – with some highly competitive, super fit participants! 3rd Ringwood’s 8 man team of 11 and 12 year old Scouts (Toby, Noah, Jacob, Jack, Kayden, Alex, Riley & Henry) were by far the youngest competitors in the event – giving away several years to the other junior team (fire cadets). But the Scouts still put up some very impressive lap times, completed 39 laps during the 2 hour race, and finished the race a very creditable 23rd out of the 25 teams.