The East Allington Whacky Races will take place on next month, and daredevil drivers are encouraged to get their entries in as soon as possible.

The popular downhill race will take place Saturday, September 29, and as in previous years, drivers will start outside the village school in East Allington and race down Churchill, past the church and The Fortescue Arms, finishing outside the Village Hall.

The course is short and quick – taking between 20-35 seconds to complete on average. The race is open to adults and juniors and all drivers can expect to have at least three attempts at the course before the finals.

Entry costs just £10 but places are limited so daredevil drivers are encouraged to get their entries in fast.

Fabulous prizes are up for grabs including dinner, bed and breakfast for two at Buckland Tout Saints for the driver of the best looking kart.

Chairman of the event organising committee, Vicky Hatch, said: “We encourage anyone to have a go at building a kart for this year’s Whacky Races. The key is to keep your design simple. Your kart doesn’t need to have a metal welded frame with parallel steering and disc brakes.  

“Some of the best karts have been based on an 8ft x 4ft sheet of plywood as the chassis with recycled bicycle/pram/buggy wheels.

“All karts must be powered by gravity only, no pedals or sneaky engines allowed. Karts must have a braking system capable of holding the kart on the start line with no assistance and have a rigid steering system (no ropes/steering with feet).

“Karts should be built with no sharp edges or loose glass, and competitors should wear a full facial crash helmet. Just as importantly, the karts should be as whacky as possible. The crazier your kart looks, the better!

“If you don’t fancy starting a kart from scratch, there are a few karts available this year which wannabe racers may ‘adopt’ and modify. Get in touch with us if you’re interested.”

The Whacky Races is a fun day out for all the family with a BBQ, bar, bouncy castle, stalls and much more starting from 11am. Follow the new Facebook page @eawhacky for updates.

All proceeds raised from the Whacky Races will be divided between the Devon Air Ambulance and local community groups and organisations.

For more information on the event, a copy of the rules, kart specification and entry forms, please contact [email protected]