The Doyle family of Vacy has been involved in Gresford billy cart derby for many years, but this is the first time they have made a cart to enter the competition.
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Through the Gresford-Vacy Soccer Club father Kris has been involved in the setting up of the Easter Saturday competition and towing the carts back up to the starting point when the drivers have completed their run at the bottom of the hill.
“Now that Tom is getting older he has been pestering me to make a billycart to enter,” Kris said.
“This is the first billy cart I have ever built so I had to put some thought into it.
“Tom and I argued over what design it was going to be.
“I wanted it to be like a tractor-cart and Tom wanted a fast, flash looking one. I won out this time, but it will be Tom’s choice next year.”
The foundation of the cart has been built after Kris pinched his brother-in-law’s old ride-on mower.
The mower has been stripped and Kris and Tom – and younger sister Eva – have been busy last week building it from the ground up.
Tom said it doesn’t look much now, but come Easter Saturday, it will be in perfect racing condition.
“We used parts of the mower to make the cart and we still have to make the cab and bonnet,” he said.
We used parts of the mower to make the cart and we still have to make the cab and bonnet. It will have a muffler up the side of the cab like our tractor and of course a steering wheel. I can’t wait until it is finished and we can give it a test run.
- Tom Doyle
“It will have a muffler up the side of the cab like our tractor and of course a steering wheel.
“I can’t wait until it is finished and we can give it a test run.”
Tom, 10, will compete in the junior section for under-16s and Kris will steer it down Park Street in the open section.
Unfortunately Eva is too young to enter, but will be cheering on the sideline.
“Tom is hoping to at least win a heat,” Kris said.
“I don’t think we will win because the wheels are too heavy, but we will certainly look the part.”
The billy cart derby will be held at East Gresford on March 26.
For more information visit gresfordbillycartderby.wordpress.com
