Having fun on the run: Lincolnshire Freemasons enter two teams in soap box derby
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Freemasonry was the only organisation to enter two teams in Lincoln’s first-ever soapbox derby, raising our profile for spectators in their thousands who lined the course five and six deep to see the spectacle.
Members from Boston and the Free Wheelers motorcycle Lodge formed the teams, both with the ambition of raising our profile and backing their chosen charities. Pilgrim Fathers were supporting the MCF with their Red Arrows-inspired ‘soap box’, (below) and the Free Wheelers were backing the Teddies For Loving Care Scheme – which explained the outfits.
Organised by a company called Krazy Races, the event called for each competing team to make three timed runs down Flaxengate in Lincoln, with the fastest ten taking part in a ‘run off’ late in the afternoon.
The Boston team was faster than the Free Wheelers, coming 16th compared to the Free Wheelers’ 28th; second from bottom. Not a problem for the motorbike lodge, according to kart builder and pilot Stewart Buckingham. “We wanted to give the crowd the best chance to see us and see how much fun Freemasonry can be,” he said.
The soapbox bug has clearly bitten Stewart. He’s on the lookout for an opening to take part in a televised Red Bull event. He said: “We’ve got the kart; let’s put it to good use! There’s a Red Bull flying event as well, I wonder about entering that?”
