Now You Can Follow the Downhill Action Online!

News release

21st August 2012

Home-made soapbox carts will reach superfast speeds at the annual Belchford Downhill Challenge next month.

Unfortunately, broadband Internet speeds in many parts of Lincolnshire are not nearly so fast, which is why OnLincolnshire will be at Belchford this year to showcase the benefits of digital technology and superfast broadband Internet access.

Spectators at the downhill race, which takes place at Belchford near Horncastle on Sunday 16th September 2012, will be able to watch footage of the action on interactive leaderboards and on iPads in a media marquee set up specially for the event.

With the added technology spectators at the bottom of the course can easily keep up with what’s happening at the top of the hill.

Those who can’t attend the downhill race can follow the action online – there will be regular tweets with links to photos, video footage of the racing hosted on YouTube and interviews with drivers, mechanics and organisers.

On-board cameras will give viewers a hair-raising sense of what it’s like to race down the course at speeds of up to 50mph, and the event will be filmed in 3D.

This project to bring the event to a worldwide audience is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund and is part of the £57 million council-led OnLincolnshire project which aims to provide broadband speeds of at least 24Mbps for 90% of homes and businesses in the county, and a guaranteed 2Mpbs for the remaining premises by 2015.

“The Belchford Downhill Challenge is a fantastic, fun event but one that many Lincolnshire people have never been to,” said Angela Driver, Principal Development Officer at OnLincolnshire.

“Using the latest digital and online technology we can bring the racing to a far wider audience so that everyone can enjoy the action, not just in Lincolnshire but across the globe!

“The event will also be a showcase to the benefits of superfast broadband, because without it none of the fantastic potential of this technology can be realised.”

Dick Black, one of the originators of the event, added: “This is the 11th year that the event has been held, with everyone trying to go just that bit faster – all powered by nothing but gravity!

“It’s great to see teams coming back year after year with improved designs, but it’s also good to have a whole new crop of entrants. Some are completely new to gravity racing and just want to have a go! It’s amazing to see home-built carts achieving such good speeds.”

Staff from OnLincolnshire will be on hand at the Belchford Downhill Challenge to collect signatures in support of superfast broadband in Lincolnshire.

If you would like to lend your support to the campaign visit www.OnLincolnshire.org

Superfast broadband - the benefits for residents

• Download films, music and e-books and upload videos and photos
• Consistent, reliable service regardless of how many people are online
• Connect with family, friends or colleagues in high-definition video
• Access TV and films on demand
• Discover how interactive learning can open new doors
• Work effectively from home
• Consider setting up your own business from home

Superfast broadband - the benefits for business

• New business opportunities thanks to faster upload and download speeds
• Work smarter using cloud computing
• Access your data from anywhere with a broadband connection
• Revolutionise your communication with customers and colleagues
  • Save money on your telephony bills
  • Use Skype or Face Time to communicate using video
  • Hold meetings using teleconference or videoconference
  • Share information and work in real time from anyone, with anyone, anywhere
  • Make the most of online social media
  • Keep your e-commerce and other websites up to date with the latest content
  • Access your data remotely – at home or when you’re out of the office

Notes to Editors

• OnLincolnshire is a £57 million Lincolnshire County Council project which aims to provide broadband speeds of at least 24Mbps for 90% of homes and businesses in the county, and a guaranteed 2Mpbs for the remaining premises by 2015.
• Some Internet users in rural Lincolnshire experience speeds of less than 1 Mbps. The UK’s average broadband speed is 7.6 Mbps, according to Ofcom.
• The activity at the Belchford Downhill Challenge is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013 and is part of the £57 million council-led OnLincolnshire project which aims to provide broadband speeds of at least 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) for 90% of homes and businesses in the county, and a guaranteed 2Mpbs for the remaining premises by 2015.
• For more information visit www.OnLincolnshire.org
• The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf

Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @jezashberry

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