THERE were plenty of wacky designs to brighten spirits at Tetbury’s Wacky Races today, in spite of the rainy weather.

This year, 29 karts descended one of Tetbury’s steepest hills, braving the well-known hairpin bend from Chipping Street to the Millenium Green at the bottom of Gumstool Hill.

The races, organised by Tetbury Lions, began in 2012 with only eight entries.

The Standard spoke to a few of the wackiest teams about their kart designs and aspirations before the racing began.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

One of our favourites was a scrumptious-looking hot dog kart built by Berkeley Vale Motors and driven by students from Castle School in Thornbury.

The team consisted of seven year nine boys from the school: Will Halliwell, Sam McManus, Josh Donaldson, Ross Goodridge, Cam Hawkins, Matt Connock and Max Phillips.

When asked what spurred on such a delicious design, the boys said that the kart design last year was “bland”.

They dedicated six hours, one hour per week after school, to helping put together the giant hot dog, constructed mostly from paper mache and chicken wire.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

Another delicious design was the returning Creme Egg kart, which won wackiest design last year.

The Creme Egg, driven by 13-year-old Sam Hutton of team Eggsplorers, was allegedly modelled on the belly of Cliff Perks, who runs the Tetbury business Boxer Power and Equipment.

Cliff also helped build two other karts: Bone Breaker, made out of an old lawn mower and driven by his son Neil Perks; and the kart by Team Batman, driven by two boys dressed as Batman and the Penguin.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

Things did not go too well for first-timers Soapbox Squarepants, however, who went around the hairpin bend too quickly in their practice run and had to replace their axles before the race.

When asked what the team hoped to achieve in the races, driver Kris Anderson, said with a laugh: “We are going to come fastest. That’s probably not going to happen… The only thing that is working well is the stereo.”

The kart, sponsored by Akers Construction in Minety and built by Kris and Paul Jaggers, featured two stereo speakers which played music while it sped down the hill.

Kris added: “We are going to come back next year and build something more substantial.”

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

Another returning favourite to the races were The Parry Clan, who entered the Black Galleon last year.

This year, the family of builders have opted for an old western cart decorated with a blow up doll and two blow up horses.

When asked what inspired them to such a design, Jerry Parry said: “It was something simple we could do and there was a lack of time to do it. You always leave these things to the last minute!”

The kart, which took four sundays to make, was driven by Jerry’s son, Hayden.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

Shed Loads of Power was another hopeful for the wackiest design in the races.

The kart, which bears resemblance to a garden shed, was constructed by Alex Burton and inspired by gardener Luke Harding’s love for plants.

Wacky Races newcomer Alex, who has been working in the area for two years, said that he came to see the races for the first time last year and wanted to participate this year.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

Local business Car Care Tetbury also decided to delve into the creative side as driver of the Grease Monkey kart, Lee Wright, slipped into his monkey suit for the races.

“We are doing it for the fun of it,” Lee said.

The company’s two carts, Grease Monkey and Care Care King, were driven by Lee, Luke Miller and James King.

Results and more to follow.