TENSION mounts with teams now entering the final stages of the vehicle construction for the Autohorn Micklegate Run Soapbox Challenge, to be held on York’s Micklegate on Sunday 28 August.
The event, sponsored by York based fleet management company Autohorn, is the first of its kind to be held on Micklegate.
With 44 teams entered, the event organisers are expecting a crowd of 8,000 people on the bank holiday Sunday. The race track will run the full length of the street from the Priory Street junction on Micklegate to Skeldergate and North Street.
The event is being organised by Micklegate Business Initiative, a group of local business owners who are working together to improve the Micklegate area of York, something which Autohorn were keen to support.
Scott Jenkins, Autohorn sales & operations director, said: “We are really pleased to be able to sponsor the event. As a local York business committed to helping to improve the city-centre environment by encouraging the use of ‘greener’ technology, it’s great to be able to support such a community spirited event with an environmentally friendly twist.
“We’re delighted with the support that the event has got so far and are really looking forward to seeing everybody take part on race day.”
With just weeks to go before the event, The Priory Garage team, one of the six teams based on Micklegate to be entered in the race, have progressed well with their car build. The car has been engineered using two recycled bikes and polyethylene sheeting.
The time left before the event will be used for the fine tuning of the mechanics and the all-important decoration.
Johnny Hayes MBE. chairman of the Micklegate Business Initiative said: “The support of Autohorn has allowed us to raise our ambitions for the event and we are incredibly grateful to them.
“There will now be additional entertainment on the day as well as street food which we hope will give a real festival feel to the day. We will also be raising funds for St Leonards Hospice and the newly formed York Boat Rescue charity.”
Autohorn specialises in fleet management for companies that run fleets of conventional vehicles. Its services include vehicle hire, vehicle leasing, flexible leasing, fuel management, driver training and accident management which it offers throughout the UK.
