A STAINDROP family are taking on the notorious Red Bull Soapbox Race in aid of the region’s air medics this weekend.
Stephen Wails, along with daugters Stephanie, Jessica and Amelia, have been frantically building their Gravity Activated Redbull Roadster (GARR) since learning they had qualified for the wacky races little more than a month ago.
Mum Katrina, Stephanie’s husband Ryan Coll and Jessica’s partner Murat Ozkanli will serve as pit crew when they go under starter’s orders at Alexandra Palace, in London, on Saturday.
Their Powerbluff Girls team was inspired by the siblings’ favourite childhood animated series Powerpuff Girls.
Stephanie said: “It is a cartoon about three sisters and a dad, and we loved it. If you watch it as an adult it is full of jokes and puns which is totally our humour.”
Her dad added: “And you said Powerbluff, because you were bluffing it.”
Stephanie said: “We sent off our application with our sketches and Red Bull selected, I think, 60.”
Building the kart was a challenge as it has to be made from scratch, not weigh more than 80kg and have brakes.
Stephen used wheelbarrow tyres, a welded frame and motorbike-type suspension on the rear.
He said: “I thought that is probably the best I can do because trying to get bits for front suspension with steering I found difficult.”
Jessica said: “It is more than enough. We will just put cushions on the seats.”
Jessica will be the driver while Stephanie will be “hanging on for dear life”.
Stephanie said: “Because we are in a rural area, and we used to compete a lot with horses when we were younger, it is great knowing the air ambulance is about. Dad’s a fisherman, always out in remote areas, and Jessica likes to hike and paddle board on the River Tees.”
Mum Katrina, a former midwife, and dad Stephen, a former policeman, have always been aware of the crucial need for air medics.
People can preview the team’s profile at https://shorturl.at/AZVJJ and can support the fundraiser by visiting gofund.me/2775b1cb.
