VIDEOS. The first edition of Carrozzu in Bastia shortened for security reasons

The Carrozzu in Bastia soap box race was held this Wednesday at the Annonciade park. More than 40 non-motorized but perfectly decorated vehicles were registered to participate in this 300 meter descent. But for safety reasons, the race was finally stopped before all the participants could pass.

Pirate ships, a giant medicine box, the Batmobile, a unicorn cart or even another in honor of SC Bastia… Inspiration was there, this Wednesday, May 8, for the 42 participants of the very first edition of Carrozzu in Bastia.

The concept: a soap box race, organized at the Annonciade park, in front of a delighted audience of all ages. The course, 300 meters long, and descended in turn by each crew, was timed by the professionals from Sport Timers. With three prizes up for grabs: that of the fastest, the most beautiful carrozzu, and a final one for the most beautiful fall.

And there was no shortage of falls. Particularly when passing the small but no less terrible springboard, halfway through. The event posed difficulties for a number of crews, who, for the luckiest, left pushing the cart upright, and for one of the pilots, on the firefighters’ stretcher, due to a fractured tibia.

Another difficulty, this time for the organization: the crowd, larger than expected – several hundred people came to attend the event -, and not always very disciplined, with spectators frequently crossing the security perimeter, forcing sometimes very long pauses between each passage and frequent calls to order at the microphone.

The ax finally fell around 5:30 p.m., with the injury to the head of a young spectator, who hit one of the carts, and was also evacuated by the firefighters. After only 24 crews had passed, the race was canceled by decision of the organizers, who cited security reasons.

A black spot in an event which nevertheless succeeded in creating great enthusiasm among the participants and the public. France 3 Corsica ViaStella offers you a video look back at this first edition, although shortened, of Carrozzu in Bastia.

At 10 a.m. this morning, the vehicles reach the Annonciade garden one by one. The organizers, Gilles Secchi and Fred Sabiani, gave the participants free choice as to the decoration of their car… as long as the established specifications were well respected, namely a vehicle without an engine, with four wheels, a braking system, a steering wheel, and for all those who pilot them, the compulsory wearing of protection.

A few hours before the big departure, it is time for the final visual adjustments to the vehicles for their drivers. The opportunity for them to compare assembly and decoration techniques.

“It took us two months to do it, working on it together every Saturday morning.” explain these four friends, not a little proud to unveil their cart in homage to the Daltons and their disguises that go with it.

“For the design, we started with two children’s quads that we cut, lengthened, widened and reinforced to be able to do this descent. We didn’t carry out any testing before, but we are confident. Falls, we take care of them leave it to others, it will be speed and aesthetics!”

Right next door, Xavier and his grandson Alexandre test the siren of their “Picole nationale” vehicle. “I took an old lawn mower, removed everything that needed to be removed, and did the rest from A to Z, explains the grandfather. It took me two months, two and a half months.” “He did the mechanics, and I did the decoration, continues Alexandre. We are confident but cautious!“

A little further on, this other group finished working this morning, adding and pruning the last branches to complete their “bush” vehicle. At their feet, the helmets that they intend to wear along the descent, in the shape of a boar’s head. “The idea came to us during a meal. We are a hunting family, so the idea came naturally, they smile. The longest part was finding the structure and patching everything up. We managed to do this over two whole days.“

3 p.m., start of the race. The passage of the first vehicles is organized without much difficulty, but quickly the pace slows down, with up to 15 to 20 minutes of break between two crews.

The falls at the level of the springboard also accumulate, so much so that several vehicles ultimately choose to go around it, even if it means being disqualified from the timed race.

After two evacuations by emergency services – a participant and a young spectator – the race was finally canceled, leading to a certain disappointment on the part of the 18 crews who did not have the opportunity to take part like the public.

In addition to the soapbox race, entertainment was also offered throughout the day, with games for children, a food and beverage area, and a free Eppò concert at the end of the day.