The seats in the cars are adjustable so will slide forward to fit the younger drivers, and back for the older ones. However, sometimes that just isn’t enough – its rare, but does happen – even though we sometimes get an adult in! Usually the child in question that is too big is a teenager – so in those instances its not possible to have a passenger on board – its just one up!
If the cars are suitable for 4 year olds and older – wont they be too tame for my older child?
Our Jeeps are far from ‘off the shelf’. We have completely customised them so that they many are now 24v and have computerised controllers inside that enable us to change such things as top speed, rate of acceleration, braking efficiency, maximum current (good for slopes and bumps) – all by pre-programming them with our laptop. We also have a dial under the bonnet so we can alter the speed by miniscule amounts – to suit the drivers ability level – meaning the younger drivers would go a bit slower than the older ones, so its exciting whatever the age! Our jeeps also are fitted with remote controls, so we are also able to stop a jeep from wherever we are standing – and also change the speed! Being able to be so precise with the speed is something no-one else offers – and makes such a difference to the parties.
Is food included?
We concentrate on making the entertainment the best it can be, and if you’ve ever tasted the boss’s sandwiches you’ll realise why we want to keep it that way! So really the answer is no – Wacky Wheelers don’t provide food. Sorry!
Are indoors or outdoors parties better?
The great things about our Jeeps being electric is that because they don’t have smelly engines they are equally at home indoors as outdoors. In fact, we think they run better indoors. The party is more contained indoors, and the floor smoother than outdoors (therefore less rolling resistance) and there’s no lumps, bumps or slopes to slow the Jeeps down. Having said that – you can’t beat an outdoor kids Jeep Party if the sun is shining! We now generally restrict outdoor parties to the warmer months or March to mid September (although can do them outdoor by special arrangement on the condition that if the weather is bad there may be a cleaning and drying charge). One further tip for outdoors (as we’ve discovered during this hot summer -2025) is that if there is little or no shade, the kids can find it a little hot on the jeeps for our normal routine, so it may be a little more relaxed.
What happens if it rains and we are outside?
Well, the simple answer is… we get wet! Being very British and all that we just get on with it (although we may discuss it quite a bit as Brits are wont to do). However, we are aware of the inherent risks in torrential rain (not to mention the displeasure of the drivers) so we won’t operate if it is absolutely bucketing down. The other thing to beware of if you are thinking of booking an outdoor party and it does go all wonky weather-wise, is that we may have to make a cleaning charge, as the track can get muddy when packed away, as well as the jeep wheels, as the next venue we go to may be indoors so we have to be careful. In the Summer though, there’s obviously less risk. If you are at all concerned please talk to us.
Please note, due to the weather, we only consider outdoor parties between March and mid September.
What do the guests do while they wait their turn?
If you get the right number of jeeps to the number of children then they won’t be waiting long. We reckon a ratio of 4 children to one Jeep is about right, Let’s say you have a Small party – with 4 Jeeps, 16 kids. 8 will be on the track, 4 will just have come off, and 4 will be waiting on the chairs ready to come on. If you want to be sure that every child has a turn of each driving game then the ratio should be 3:1 (but we suggest 4:1 as not every child will want to do all activities).
We also bring a mini table football table that the kids can play while they are waiting – and we often have as many as 6 kids getting involved in that. Whilst you could add a third party bouncy castle, we’re not that keen as it detracts from the finely honed routine of the party – but if there are 30 or more kids it can start to make sense.
How many Jeeps are best suited to our party?
We do 5 sizes of party so we are sure to offer one that fits closely with your requirement. In general we recommend a ratio of between 3 or 4 kids to 1 Jeep, with 3 being more time on the Jeeps per child than 4.
If you want to keep the party small and intimate – then the choice is easy – go for the small party. Up to 16 kids we recommend the 4 Jeep Small party. Whilst there is nothing stopping you from booking more Jeeps to give them more time on the Jeeps, there comes a point where children’s attention drops if they have too much of a good thing, so more (jeeps) is not always better.
If you are in the low 20s then there’s no need for anything bigger than the Standard size party – but if you are in the mid 20s it may be worth considering the large 6 Jeep party.
High 20s to low 30s, add an optional extra Jeep to a Large party to make 7 Jeeps.
Mid 30s, an 8 Jeep Supersize (but you will need the extra space for the track).
It all boils down to budget and SPACE available, and whether you have extra activities such as a bouncy castle (select with care). The thing to consider is that during the party we have a progression of 4 driving exercises to get through plus the photo and finale at the end (where else would it be?), so with each ‘go’ taking 3 mins plus changeover time means the more children, the less likelihood that they will all get a chance to drive all the different tasks. That’s not to say they won’t all get lots of goes in the jeeps, but it is a question of mathematics!
What access and parking does the Wacky Wheelers crew require?
Our parties differ from the average party. A magician comes with quite a few boxes, but a juggler comes with very little. One major party company in London (who mentioned Sharks?) only come with a small backpack. We, however, just about manage to leave behind the kitchen sink. There’s the track, jeeps, PA system, table football, blowers, batteries… need we go on? Suffice to say we don’t turn up in just a Ford Fiesta! For that reason we need good access for either our van or trailers, plus we prefer not to have to move them once parked in the loading area (time!).
Important: If we can’t get our vehicle up to the door, it adds time. If the door is far away from the space where the party takes place, it adds time! So we do need to know in advance (preferably at booking) if the venue is not straightforward, because we make calculations about arrival and departure time based on reasonable access. Every metre counts!
Similarly, doorways should be at least 1m wide (so double doors are great). We can usually get through smaller doorways but this might mean dismantling the jeeps, and guess what? That adds time. We do allow a reasonable time for loading and unloading, but if the venue presents challenges that are above and beyond what’s reasonable, we may have to put a surcharge on (or be a little late in starting). A major challenge (which may be a step too far :) ) would definitely include a staircase for example! Of course, if we have already been to the venue we would usually know the layout.
How much space do we need?
The first things to consider are which size track is being used, and how many people are coming? First, take account of the track size, then think about the space needed to wait/eat etc.
Small Party – we do have a track where the size is flexible, generally about 10m x 12m. We can take bits out and add bits to make this track fit, but don’t really like going narrower than 8m. However, this track is now rarely used – and only for special circumstances, so the space for a small party is as a standard, below.
Standard Party – this track is about 10m x 15m, or about 1.5 x badminton courts. We can squeeze it a bit so can use less than 10m width, but bear in mind this will then make it longer than 15m!
Large Party – this can be as per the standard track, or adding in a couple of metres length – according to availability of space at the venue. So if there’s space, we can be up to 10m x 17m
Supersize Party – we sometimes use 2 tracks here, or our special supersize track – so will move to fill the space available, but would recommend a minimum of 12 x 20m.
Now the next thing to consider is how much waiting space is required.
Are the parents staying or is it a drop off party. Will you be providing food in the hall or in an ante room? We also need some space for the waiting chairs (as many as there are jeeps) and also for the table football games. So for example, for a 24 child party with standard jeeps and eating in a separate room, there will be 14 waiting. So probably about an extra 10m x 3m is ample. If you’re not sure – just ask and we can help!
How long do I need to book the venue for?
We need about 30 mins to set up – however our record is 7 minutes, so if for any reason we are delayed – don’t panic as we should be able to get the party moving in no time at all! At the end, assuming if it takes you 30 minutes to get all your guests collected and all your bits and pieces back in order, we’d suggest you only need to book the venue for 3 hours. A sample timing would be – if a party was due to start at 10.30am, we’d arrive at 10,00, the drivers briefing at 10.30 (if everyone turns up on time), driving finale ends at 12.00 when birthday lunch starts and we commence packing up our kit. The party would finish at 12.30, we’d be ready to leave along with the guests, and the remaining 30 mins would be left to you to get the dining area etc all shipshape and also giving time for those mums and dads who want to chat a bit longer to stay.