Thousands of visitors joined us in Newbury on Sunday 26th July for the return of Newbury BID Krazy Races, an exciting soapbox derby that saw 10 teams tackle the course through Newbury town centre in a series of thrilling downhill time trials.
Following a hugely successful debut event last summer, this year’s event returned bigger and better than ever, running alongside Newbury’s popular Artisan Market and an even wider programme of family entertainment.
Alongside all the action on track, visitors had the chance to meet Paddington™ throughout the day, celebrating Newbury’s proud connection with the beloved bear, as author Michael Bond was born less than half a mile from the racetrack.
Sadly, the planned Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast had to be cancelled because of poor weather conditions, but fortunately the sun stayed out in Newbury and visitors were treated to beautiful weather throughout the day.
The event also supported headline charity partner Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, a local charity that supports the area’s vibrant charitable sector while also delivering Newbury’s Shopmobility, Community Car and Newbury and Thatcham’s Handybus services.
Volunteer Centre West Berkshire partnered up with other local charities and community groups to run Carnival Alley, where visitors could pick up refreshments, have their face painted, test their skills and win prizes though traditional carnival games, all while supporting great local causes.
Teams first battled it out across a series of timed runs before the fastest five returned to the track in the afternoon to compete in a thrilling final shootout. The day concluded with an awards ceremony in the Pit Area, recognising everything from creative kart design and crowd favourites through to the fastest teams on the course.
Here is the full list of winners:
• The Team of Teams Award: PALS
• Public Vote Award: Lincolnshire Rough Ashlars
• Best Krazy designed Kart: Scott Waters Racing
• Best Performance Award: PALS
• 3rd Place: Lincolnshire Rough Ashlars
• 2nd Place: The Rectory Clinic
• 1st Place: Newbury Velo
The event was brought back to the town by Newbury Business Improvement District, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that is funded by town centre businesses.
Newbury BID supports local businesses through events, marketing, business support initiatives and town centre improvements, with free public events playing a key role in driving footfall into Newbury.
Ben Beardmore-Gray, Marketing Manager at Newbury BID says: “Krazy Races has once again delivered an unforgettable day out in Newbury, and we were delighted to see so many people enjoying everything the day had to offer across both Krazy Races and the Artisan Market. We would like to say a huge thank you to every team, volunteer, partner and everyone at Krazy Races, Renartgades and the Artisan Market for helping make the day such a success!”
Rachel Peters, CEO of Volunteer Centre West Berkshire added: “We were incredibly proud to serve as the headline charity for Krazy Races 2026. The event was a fantastic celebration of community spirit, bringing together local charities, businesses, volunteers and residents in a fun and engaging way. Carnival Alley gave us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the vital support available across West Berkshire, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make the day such a memorable success.”
If you are looking for your next big day out, explore what’s coming up across Newbury and West Berkshire on our Visit Newbury events calendar.
