Homemade go-karting is making a return as a local Nedlands dad group prepares to bring thethrilling billy cart race back to the community.
On November 22, Nedlands Primary School will come alive as local families race custom carts across two courses.
Kids can soar down the Viewway hill with a gentle shove from their dad, or test their agility on the other gymkhana track that bends and weaves throughout the school.
Winners will be crowned based on speed and cart design.
The day is organised by local not-for-profit NedsLads, a branch of the national Fathering Project organisation that aims to bring together dads and their kids with fun activities.
“I think our core purpose of our organisation is to enable fathers and father figures - grandparents, stepfathers, uncles - to play an active part in their children’s school career,” NedsLads co-ordinator and billy cart day event lead Ben Lane said.
“The billy cart race event becomes more than just participating and turning up on the day, it becomes an opportunity for fathers and father figures to come together with a long-term project where they plan ahead what billy cart they want, they go out and secure the materials, whether they scavenge for them or purchase them, then turn up on the day and race it and see how well they’ve gone.”
Mr Lane will be fishing out his toolkit for this year’s race, already building the cart his kids hope to steer to victory.
His eldest daughter Maggie, 12, said she’s most excited to cheer on the winners and help her seven-year-old sister Olive as she prepares to race for the first time.
“We’ve done one before a couple of years ago and it was pretty fun,” she said. “It was a bit weird because we’ve never done it before, and everyone was a bit panicky, but it was pretty fun, a bit scary half the time.”
Her 10-year-old brother Ari agreed, feeling more confident now that he’s spent a few years honing his skills.
“Now that I’m a bit older, I’m excited that I actually probably know how to work the cart, and I’ll just be happy to make a new cart and maybe even win,” he said.
The inaugural billy cart race took place about seven years ago.
In 2023, NedsLads hosted its second race day with more than 50 local families participating.
“I can’t count the number of times I’ve had people ask me when the next billy cart race is going to be,” Mr Lane said.
“This really does bring dads together, probably in a way that they don’t often tend to ... I’m really hoping this time around we can push it up to about 70 or 80 families.”
Mr Lane said planning typically takes a few weeks before the building begins, with all carts requiring four wheels, a forward-facing seat and steering abilities.
“Some of the billy carts last time probably wouldn’t have been out of place in a 1950s grand prix; they were pretty spectacular-looking things,” he said. “I had a pretty basic off-the-shelf Bunnings job.
“It’s really nice that my kids, three of whom are in primary school now, they know that their dad is running this and that gives me a sense of pride. I think it’s nice and it gives me time with them. The other thing is it gives me a reason to meet a lot of the other dads and build up relationships.”
For parents who don’t have access to the necessary tools and equipment, NedsLads organises workshops so dads with more experience can offer their skills to the community.
The event will be held on November 22, sponsored by Woolworths, Duet Real Estate, Carrington’s Traffic Management and Accelerate Swim School.
Mr Lane welcomes anyone interested in sponsoring to contact NedsLads, as it allows events like billy cart day to be cheaper and more accessible.
Tickets for one adult and one child are $50, and any additional children are $10 each. All funds go back into future school events, and tickets are able to be purchased online.