Institution news
Rob Sweeney EngTech MIMechE, his brother John Sweeney, and friends John Johns and Adam Turrall competed as Team Kart Kapone in the London Red Bull Soapbox Race 2015, watched by a crowd of 20,000 supporters.
The race, which was broadcast on television on UKTV’s Dave channel, is an opportunity for amateur teams – independent and corporate – to design, build and race outrageous machines.
Points are gained for creativity, showmanship and course speed. The course includes several suspension-shattering jumps and sharp turns.
Team Kart Kapone created a storyline depicting London in 1921, during ‘Red Bull Prohibition’. Most Soapbox entries – from windmills to giant shoes – disintegrate as they hurtle down the course, but the team’s kart (pictured) remained unscathed, and achieved an impressive time.
Rob Sweeney said: “We had an amazing day. John drove brilliantly. The suspension worked better than expected and we didn’t brake once.”
The Sweeney brothers’ great-great-grandfather founded a hand-press company, Sweeney & Blocksidge, in 1869, which evolved into an international power-pressing business lasting 140 years. When Jack James Sweeney, its penultimate chairman, died in 2013, Rob received his grandfather’s gold badge – he had been an Institution member for more than 50 years – and a letter confirming that Jack was a chartered engineer, something that Rob had not realised.
Both brothers say their grandfather inspired them to take up engineering. Rob said of their go-kart: “We created and modified about seven CAD designs over a fortnight, followed by three weeks of construction.
"The specifications included 100mm clearance, and drivers were required to wear helmets and gum-shields, but no seat belts. The vehicle also had to be open-topped – allegedly so the judges could see the fear in your eyes.”
Photo by Red Bull Content Pool.