Zoomers
8 – 10 years
First-time racers and junior builders. Short wheelbase builds focused on control and fun. Adult co-driver optional for youngest entrants.
$10 Pre-regVintage Weekend Feature Event
PlumberDan Soap Box Derby 2026
Fuel your gravity racer, round up your pit crew, and be part of Vintage Weekend’s loudest spectacle. The PlumberDan Soap Box Derby is back with tighter turns, new categories, and bigger prizes.
Countdown to Launch
Monday 20 January 2026 · Racing from 9:00 AM
Days
94
Hours
19
Minutes
06
Seconds
37
Drews Ave Hill
Teams Registered
60+
2026 aim for 80+
Spectators
8K
Entertainment along Drews Ave
Course Drop
38m
Twisty downhill with braking zone
Prize Pool
$5K
Custom trophies and prizes
Monday 20 January 2026 · Zoomers • Sprinters • Mini Stocks • Open · Free for spectators · Coffee · Food · Entertainment
Monday 20 January 2026 · Zoomers • Sprinters • Mini Stocks • Open · Free for spectators · Coffee · Food · Entertainment
Monday 20 January 2026 · Zoomers • Sprinters • Mini Stocks • Open · Free for spectators · Coffee · Food · Entertainment
Monday 20 January 2026 · Zoomers • Sprinters • Mini Stocks • Open · Free for spectators · Coffee · Food · Entertainment
Lock in your grid slot
Complete the form to reserve your racer number and pay the $10 early-bird fee online. Miss it and you’ll pay $50 on race morning if spots remain.
Race Day Essentials
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Lock in your slot
Pre-register for $10 via our Stripe Payment Link. Prices jump to $50 on race morning if slots remain.
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Plan your crew
Each racer needs a support adult in the pits.
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Race-day check-in
Arrive by 7:45 AM for scrutineering. Late arrivals may forfeit their first heat.
Choose your grid
Categories for every crew
Select your division, show up with a compliant kart, and be ready for two timed runs plus finals if you make the cut. $10 early-bird entry, $50 on the day.
Sprinters
11 – 15 years
Intermediate racers looking for speed with style. Expect tighter chicanes and a braking check mid-course.
$10 Pre-regMini Stocks
Open build teams
Family or school squads with multi-driver lineups. Pit strategy counts—roll-in starts with timed split checkpoints.
$10 Pre-regOpen
16+ years
The all-in division for innovators, alumni and daredevils. Full course run with the Drews Ave hairpins and speed trap finish.
$10 Pre-regRace day timeline
From dawn pits to podium
Plan your day so you never miss a heat. Scrutineering is strict, so be ready when your number is called.
Safety & scrutineering-
7:30 AM
Pit Area Opens
Pukenamu Queens Park pit area access for teams.
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7:45 AM
Registration & Scrutineering
Check in, kart inspection & driver weigh-in.
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8:00 AM
Staff & Volunteer Briefing
Admin tent briefing for all crew.
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8:45 AM
Competitor Briefing
Mandatory driver safety briefing and final run order.
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9:00 AM
Race Start
Heats begin from the top of Drews Ave Hill.
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12:00 PM
Lunch Intermission
Food trucks, coffee carts, JJ Roofing Running of the Balls.
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1:00 PM
Heats Resume
Semi-finals and repechage runs.
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1:45 PM
King of the Hill Finals
Fastest combined times battle for the crown.
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3:00 PM
Prizegiving
Trophies, awards, and sponsor spotlights.
What you could win
Trophies + bragging rights
Celebrate style, resilience, and raw speed. Our judging crew combines timing splits with spectator votes and safety compliance.
🏁
King of the Hill
Fastest overall time down Drews Ave wins the crown and trophy.
🔥
People’s Choice
Spectator-voted build with the biggest wow-factor or story.
💥
Best Crash
Spectacular wipeout with all safety gear and rules in check.
Partner with the derby
Gold & Silver spots available
Sponsor packages amplify your brand across Vintage Weekend. Lock in now to secure track signage, shout-outs, and VIP pit access.
Gold Sponsors
5 spots- Prime logo placement on start gantry & finish arch
- MC shout-outs every hour
- Co-branded social reels & newsletter features
- VIP pit lane walk-through
Available Spot 1 Available
Available Spot 2 Available
Available Spot 3 Available
Available Spot 4 Available
Available Spot 5 Available
Silver Sponsors
5 spots- Branding on course banners & digital scoreboard
- Instagram story mentions during race day
- Two VIP hospitality passes
Available Spot 1 Available
Available Spot 2 Available
Available Spot 3 Available
Available Spot 4 Available
Available Spot 5 Available
Watch the action
Meet the hill
Rewatch the chaos, then plan your build. Share with your crew to show them what’s waiting.
Build smarter
Tune it for Whanganui
The Drews Ave course isn’t straight. You’ll need legitimate steering, confident brakes, and a kart that can recover after the chicane.
Read the full build guideSteering Geometry
Double-check Ackermann steering for tight Drews Ave hairpins and include a steering stop.
Brake Confidence
Hydraulic bike disks or robust scrub brakes are mandatory—finish chute requires a full stop.
Driver Fit
Harness or lap-belt recommended; drivers must demonstrate they can exit within 10 seconds.
Visibility
Add high-contrast numbers on both sides and the nose cone for marshal visibility.
Free for spectators
Hilltop festival vibes
Bring the whānau, claim a haybale and soak up Vintage Weekend. Food, music, and retro fun all day long.
Coffee & Eats
Local roasters, JJ Roofing Running of the Balls lunch break, and food trucks all day.
Entertainment
Live DJ, MC banter, and pop-up retro games to keep the hill buzzing between heats.
Best Vantage
Stake out the terraced gardens or grab a haybale near the chicane for serious thrills.
Accessibility
Accessible viewing is signposted near the top of Drews Ave with mobility parking off Taupō Quay. Volunteers are on hand to assist with seating and shade.
Throwback energy
Past events, future hype
Scroll the highlights from recent years—then add your kart to the story.
2024
Vintage Weekend roared with record crowds and rapid builds.
Zoomers maxed out the speed trap while the TTU Engineering crew claimed King of the Hill in a carbon shell.
2023
Night-before rain gave way to blue skies and slick cornering.
Whanganui Collegiate reclaimed the crash crown with the safest “big air” moment of the afternoon.
2022
A new chicane introduced and 62 entries battled gravity.
Engineering mentors from UCOL ran live workshops, boosting build quality across all divisions.
Need-to-know
FAQs
Straight answers so you can focus on the build and the thrill.
How much does it cost to enter? +
It’s $10 per racer when you register online ahead of race day. If you miss pre-registration it jumps to $50 at the Admin Tent on the morning, subject to available slots.
What safety gear is required? +
Every driver must wear a full-face helmet, closed-in shoes, gloves and elbow pads. Scrutineering will check steering, braking and bodywork. Any exposed edges must be padded.
Can I race if I don’t have a team? +
Absolutely. Independent racers are welcome—just make sure you have at least one adult support crew member on hand for staging and recovery.
Is the event free for spectators? +
Yes! Bring the whānau. Vintage Weekend vibes include food trucks, coffee carts, DJs and commentary all day. Follow the signage from Taupo Quay for the best viewing berms.
How do I pay and submit my form? +
Complete the signup form on this site. Once you submit, you’re redirected to a secure Stripe Payment Link to confirm the $10 entry. Your form details feed straight into our Google Sheets roster.
Don’t miss the grid
Early-bird closes soon
Secure your $10 entry now. Race day price is $50 if slots are still open.