The Port of Dover is usually known to be at the forefront of managing and operating one of the busiest Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) terminals in the world, but staff have decided to volunteer their spare time and assemble a team to build and race a vehicle at this year's Red Bull Soapbox Race.
Port of Dover's Engineering Services team, calling themselves the 'Do Hurry Boys', led by Sean Foord - Technician Engineer, are building 'Turbo Tugboat' - a soapbox racer based on the design of the Port's two tug boats, Dauntless and Doughty, which are moored at the Western Docks. Other members of staff behind the project include Pete Baily, Darren Wright and driver James Morton, all of whom work within the Port's Electrical and Mechanical Workshop.
This year's Red Bull Soapbox Race will be held at Alexandra Palace, London on 12th July. The race is an international event in which amateur drivers' race homemade soapbox vehicles. Each hand-made machine is fuelled by nothing but sheer courage and the force of gravity. This unique, non-motorised racing event challenges both experienced racers and amateurs alike to design and build outrageous soapbox dream machines and compete against the clock in a downhill race.
Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover says: "The Port of Dover handles £100 billion of trade to keep the UK economy moving, so the Do Hurry Boys have used their unique engineering skills to build Turbo Tugboat. Working in Europe's busiest ferry port under the world renowned White Cliffs of Dover, the team have taken inspiration from their unique home to bring Turbo Tugboat to life. Under Captain Morton, the little tug, just like the Port she comes from, defies her size and delivers more than you might expect; so watch her deliver for Dover."
Illustrations by Anita Luckett of ACE Designs, Dover.
