Last month, the 3.8km Goodwood pedal car lap record was broken by eight-year-old Alyssa from London. Pedalling in her J40, which had been prepared by Austin Pedal Cars, she set a time of 31min 51sec, beating the previous pedal car lap record by 10min and raising money for
Mission Motorsport, the Forces’ Motorsport Charity during the lunch break of the charity’s
Meyrick Cox Day.
A veteran of the Goodwood Revival Settrington Cup — a popular race featuring children aged four to 10 competing in Austin J40 pedal cars — Alyssa is no stranger to pedalling the tarmac of the Goodwood Motor Circuit, but this feat was 3.5km longer than the famous pedal car race — and took in all the corners and gradient challenges of the full circuit.
J40 experts, Austin Pedal Cars gave Alyssa’s Austin J40 a thorough overhaul ahead of the event. Using their range of parts and in-house knowledge the team ensured the classic pedal car was running well and would meet the scrutineers’ guidelines expected for any car participating in the Settrington Cup.
Following months of training around her local park, Alyssa’s pace was fast from the off, ‘powering’ along the main straight to cheers from the crowd. She kept her ‘feet to the pedals’ for the entire lap, seemingly ignorant to the midday sun as corner after corner was taken, before racing through the chicane to complete the lap to loud applause.
Alyssa said: “That was the hardest and most fun thing I have ever done. I kept pedalling as fast as I could, knowing each corner was getting me closer to the finish. It was so hot, and the track seems so much longer against the clock, but I kept going as fast as my legs would go.”
Alyssa’s efforts have so far raised £7,800 for Mission Motorsport, and the fundraising will continue through to the Goodwood Revival in September. Every penny raised will go towards regular activations run by the charity, which give veterans ‘the skills and support they need to thrive’.