First Silverline Power Tool Drag Race is huge success

The first dedicated Silverline Power Tool Drag Race was held at Haynes International Motor Museum on Sunday 5th August 2007 and attracted considerable interest from both competitors and spectators.

Power tool drag racing requires competitors to take a hand-held power tool, turn it into a mean machine and race it down a 75ft track. A wide variety of specially constructed machinery took part and competition was fierce. Declan Hicks, the UK Drifting champion, and his team “Little Wonder” entered a spectacular ride-on vehicle based on garden blowers. In the same 'ride-on' class there were two machines powered by eight chainsaws and 12 chainsaws respectively. A motorised wheelbarrow was one of the favourites with the crowd, (albeit slow) you couldn’t help but think that you were on a scene from a “Carry On” film. Other ingenious creations included a belt sander-driven toaster - complete with toast!

Darrell Morris, Director of Silverline said: "power tool drag racing is great fun for both competitors and spectators. It’s already big in the States, and launching it in the UK proved such a success that we are already working on the plans for an even bigger event next year."

It was an action-packed day, thousands of spectators were entertained by demonstrations of 'drifting' (cornering sideways), with some people lucky enough to have white-knuckle rides alongside the skilled drivers. There were also passenger rides in some of the exotic supercars from the Haynes International Motor Museum collection including a Jaguar XJ220, Dodge Viper Ferrari Boxer and Ford Mustang plus autograph sessions with Seat British Touring Car Champion Jason Plato, interviews with drivers and a parade by the National Street Rod Association.

The Silverline sponsored Buzzi Bullet III powerboat was on display prior to competing in the Powerboat P1 World Championship, the P1 British Grand Prix of the Sea, at Cowes over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

A particular highlight of the day was the Silverline Dragster with four times FIA Champion driver, Dave Wilson. With in excess of 3,000 horsepower, a top speed of 270mph and capable of running a quarter mile in 5.386 seconds, the noise and spectacle of the demonstration runs had the crowds cheering.

For a break from the outdoor action and the glorious weather, spectators toured the world famous Haynes International Motor Museum – the UK's largest exhibition of the greatest cars from around the world. It boasts more than 350 cars and bikes, dating from 1886 to the present day, 11 huge display halls, the world famous red room and one of the UK’s largest speedway collections.