Ribble Street Races

The Island Bay Trolley Derby - 2010

The Ribble Street Races are back. Ribble St will again resound with the hoots and hollers of speed-freaks from all over the Wellington region. All ages and skill levels are warmly invited. Clean out your sheds. Recycle that baby buggy. Razz up the kid’s old bike. Summer is here and it’s time to start building your trolleys! Get some basic designs from the web and give it your own special twist. Search under go kart designs. Volunteers are always needed to keep this vibrant event alive. Contact Dave if you want to help. If too wet, postponed to the next day, Sun 14th

Ribble Street Trolley Race Documents

• Rules (Adobe PDF)
• Entry Form/Agreement (Adobe PDF)
• Race Order (Adobe PDF)
• 2009 Results (Adobe PDF)
  

The event starts at 9.00 am with helpers setting up the track and the various registration and communications areas. We use plastic traffic cones for safety. If you want to be part of helping organize the Ribble St Trolley Derby get in contact with Dave Derby on 387 4548.

Between 9.30 and 10.30 am we have registration of trolleys and racers. The cost to participate is $10.00 for primary school students and $15.00 for all other students and $20.00 for adults. The organizers check that the trolleys are safe for racing and that racers have the right safety gear. The safety requirements vary depending on what class you race in. Racers need to fill out an indemnity form when they register.

Racing starts at 10.30 and goes on to about 3.30, although juniors will finish by about 1.30. We have racing in four classes: Juniors, Intermediates, Seniors and Experts. The organizers will agree with you which class you should enter, so that you can participate in the level that suits your trolley, your age and your experience. One trolley can used by more than one competitor if the organisers agree (depends on numbers) but any one trolley can only win one event. A prize will be given to the best competitor in each class. Once the event is over we will need as many persons as possible to pitch in and help dismantle the track protection and other event facilities. RAIN DATE SUNDAY 14th February.

The Juniors run from about one quarter of the way up Ribble St and get up to 30-35 kph, so it particularly suits younger and new racers. The Juniors run two at a time against each other, with one trolley leaving 5 seconds before the other. You will need to have a trolley that is obviously not unsafe, but design, steering and brakes are open (it’s better if you have a hand-brake than no brake at all). Juniors need to wear a bike helmet, jeans, shoes and some form of protection for hands (bike gloves/mitts); it can also help if you have skate- board knee and elbow pads. Anyone under the age of 16 years will need the signature of their parent, legal guardian or caregiver giving consent to allow them to compete. Depending on the programme timetable, some juniors may get to run from the Intermediate line later in the day.

The Intermediates make a practice run on the Junior course and then from about one-third of the up Ribble St and get up to 40-45 kph, so it suits racers from 10 or 13 years up who also have experience in either trolley racing, skate boarding, riding BMX bikes in skate-parks or in downhill mountain biking. Intermediates run two at a time against each other, again with one leaving 5 seconds before the other. They need to have a trolley that is a safe design, including having a stable steering system and workable brakes (at least a hand brake but preferably a foot operated brake to the wheels or road). Intermediates need to wear BMX bike helmets or motorcycle helmets, good protection for hands (bike or motorcycle gloves) and either jeans/jacket with skate-board knee and elbow pads or a motorcycle jacket. Depending on the programme timetable, some Intermediates may get to run from the seniors line later in the day.

Seniors make a practice run on the Intermediate course and then run from halfway up Ribble St where they can get up to 50-55 kph. Seniors are timed over their runs with the fastest time being the winner. The senior course will also include navigating two cones (a form of slalom). They need to have a trolley that is safe and stable under racing conditions, has a well thought out design for steering, and has fully workable brakes (preferably a foot operated). Seniors need to wear Moto-X type protection - including motorcycle helmets, leather gloves and motorcycle jacket, or similar Extreme Sport protection.

Experts make practice runs on the Intermediate and/or the Senior course and then run from the top of Ribble St where they can get up to 60-65 kph. Experts are timed over their runs from the top of the street with the fastest time being the winner. They need to have a trolley that is safe and stable under racing conditions, has a well thought out design for steering, and has fully workable brakes (preferably a foot operated). Experts need to wear Moto-X type protection - including motorcycle helmets, leather gloves and motorcycle jacket, or similar Extreme Sport protection.