Pedal Car Grand Prix

Right then, picture the scene: 40 teams of four lunatics, all mad enough to compete in this 2-hour pedal-powered endurance race. But wait, there’s more - each team also had a pit crew member, whose job it was to hover around and provide much-needed support during pit stops. These were teams of men, women, and mixed groups, all jostling for one thing - bragging rights. It wasn’t just a race; it was a battle for ultimate glory.
Now, the circuit, a sprawling 1.4 kilometres of tarmac, was lined with spectators, all hoping for some chaos and carnage. And they got it. The pit lane - the nerve centre for frantic driver changeovers and the occasional roadside repair - stretched long enough for teams to sweat over every precious second lost. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when a finely tuned athlete swaps places with someone who just ate a sausage roll, well, you’d be in luck.
Now, some of the cars, if you could call them that, looked like they’d been cobbled together from bits of old tractors and forgotten sheds. Others, however, were sleeker, more sophisticated - the Ferrari to your neighbour’s rusty wheelbarrow. The weight of these contraptions? Absolutely critical. But, more importantly, so were the riders’ legs. Fitness and stamina ruled the day, though some looked like they’d never met either.
Driver changeovers were another story altogether. The objective: make them as smooth as possible. The reality? Well, let’s just say, not everyone’s on the same page. Most teams managed to swap their drivers every two to three laps, but it wasn’t always elegant. And let’s not forget the steering - oh no - a rudimentary system that meant navigating tight bends at top speed wasn’t for the faint-hearted. Brakes? Well, they had them… sort of.