Howdens Google Amazon Sky Berkeley KPMG IKEA AstraZeneca Samsung British Sugar
INSIDE THE EVENT

What to expect

If your team needs something that gets everyone involved, not just the loudest or sportiest people, Soap Box Derby does the job. It gives your group a shared deadline, a real build to complete and a race finale people actually care about.

This is an outdoor team building event where smaller teams assemble, decorate and present their own race cart before competing on a safe course. It is part practical challenge, part creative brief and part good old-fashioned competition.

Because the scoring is not only about speed, different people get their moment. Some teams win on race time, others on design, presentation or team spirit, so the day does not hinge on having one brave driver and hoping for the best.

We run the whole thing for you. That means briefing, equipment, crew, safety checks and event management are all included, so you can enjoy the day instead of trying to organise it from the sidelines.

10 – 1,000
Outdoor
High Energy
Atmosphere

Get A feel for the space.

This is what a NewWave day looks like. Yours could be next.
WE KNOW THIS EVENT IS GREAT FOR

Team Building, Competitive, Creative, Problem Solving, Communication, Collaboration, Entertainment Objectives

Event Summary.

Soap Box Derby works well because it mirrors the pressure of real work, but in a much more fun setting. There is a deadline. There are limited resources. People need to agree a plan quickly. Then they have to build something that actually works. You soon see who likes structure, who solves problems on the fly and who keeps the team moving when time gets tight.

A typical session starts with a full welcome and safety briefing from our event team. After that, we split your group into smaller teams, usually around six to eight people. Each team gets a build brief, tools, materials and the parts needed to assemble their cart. Depending on the format you choose, the cart may be a soapbox style build or an adult pedal kart with team customisation built into the challenge.

The build stage is where the team dynamic really shows up. People need to choose roles, make decisions and use time well. One group might put their best planner in charge of the build. Another might hand presentation duties to the natural talker. Meanwhile, your practical thinkers can focus on assembly and testing, while the creative ones handle branding, decoration and costume ideas.

Once the carts are built, teams move into the final prep and presentation stage. This is where the event gets more personality. Your team can add a theme, a team name and visual touches that make the cart stand out. If you want a company message or event theme woven in, we can build that into the brief so it feels part of the day rather than tacked on.

Before any racing starts, our crew checks each cart for safety and readiness. Then it is time for the finale. Depending on the venue and format, races can be timed runs or head to head heats on a flat outdoor course. The atmosphere shifts quickly at this point. People who were carefully painting a team logo half an hour earlier are suddenly shouting split times and backing their driver like it is a championship final.

It suits a wide mix of personalities, which is one of the reasons companies book it for away days and summer events. You do not need engineering experience. You do not need to be especially fit. And you do not need everyone to want the same role. There is space for builders, designers, organisers, presenters and drivers, so more people feel useful from the start.

It is also a strong choice for larger groups because the format scales well. If you have a smaller team, it feels focused and hands-on. If you have a few hundred people, it turns into a proper event with multiple teams, plenty of visual impact and a race finale that pulls everyone together. Either way, people leave talking about the same shared moment, which is often the point of the day.

Because this is an outdoor event, it needs the right space. We will guide you on that early. In simple terms, you need a large open area for the build zone and a safe race lane with room for spectators. If a venue is not suitable, we will tell you. That matters, because this is one of those events that is brilliant in the right setting and frustrating in the wrong one.

NewWave handles the planning, logistics and delivery, so the pressure is not on you. We bring the host, crew, specialist equipment, build materials and event structure. We manage the briefings and the race flow. We also shape the scoring around your group, so if you want the balance to lean more towards creativity, competition or teamwork, we can do that. You turn up, we run it, and your team gets a day with a proper finish rather than a loose activity that drifts.

What event leads tell us

Proof from teams who've actually run one.

We have used NewWave Events a couple of times at Kohler. Though we had different event hosts each time both crews were superb, steering the atmosphere and activities with expertise that sets them apart. The activities and equipment were well designed and really helped us improve communications and relationships within our team whilst having fun. Thank you!

Tim Wilkes
Director of Marketing · Kohler

A great company, took all the stress away and managed the whole [event], I didn't need to worry about anything! I'm booking again for next year!

Alex W
5 Star Review
4.7

/ 5

Why our events keep getting booked

Some days you remember. This is one of them. It’s the rare event that lands for every kind of crowd — easy to say yes to, impossible to forget. People walk in as colleagues and leave with stories. That’s why they keep coming back.

98%

re-book

1000+

capacity

200k+

Participants a year
Ideal pairings

Pair Soap Box Derby with…

Medieval Day

Simulators and Pub Games

Faithless

Zorb Team Building

Bee Hotel Sustainability Workshop

Christmas Murder Mystery Event

FAQ

Practical questions, practical answers.

Can't see your question?

The easiest way to start is a quick call, usually about eight minutes. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just tell us roughly what you’re planning and we’ll talk you through what’s worth knowing. If we’re a good fit, brilliant. If not, you’ll still come away knowing more than you did.

Call the team

01536 674 748

Book a 8-min call

Choose a time →

Create your own day out

Use the event builder →

It is an outdoor team building challenge where your group splits into smaller teams and builds its own race cart from supplied parts and materials. Teams then decorate and brand the cart, present their idea and race in a final competition. In most formats, the winner is not decided on speed alone. Design, presentation and teamwork can count too.

play our minigame

How high can you stack?

Play the Team Stacker, set a score, then challenge the rest of your office to beat it. Fair warning: it gets competitive.

Play now