Power Tool Drag Race event takes off

This chainsaw-powered dragster was entered for the 'ride-on' category in the closely contested 2007 event

Many more attractions have been added to the third ever dedicated Silverline Power Tool Drag Racing day, taking place on Sunday 10 August 2008 at Haynes International Motor Museum.

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. Electrical appliances can also be used; one of the favourite entries last year was a belt sander driven toaster which came complete with toast! There will also be a ridden class which involves engineering a race machine that can be ridden! Previous entries have included motorised wheel barrows and go karts powered by chainsaws and leaf blowers! Enthusiasm for power tool drag racing swept across America and is now gripping the UK, following the success of the two previous Silverline Power Tool Drag Racing days in 2006 and 2007.

Teams and individuals can enter by downloading an entry form, copy of the rules and terms and conditions from www.silverlinetools.com - here you will also find an image gallery, and some video clips taken from previous years. Many competitors from 2007 are known to be returning with even faster machines and the event has attracted petrolheads from Max Power magazine who are entering the power tool drag racing and Channel Five's The Gadget Show are also entering plus they will be filming throughout the day! There will be some tough competition in the form of Team America, who are flying over to take part in the race and, of course, try and defend America's reputation as the leading country for power tool drag racing.

James Goddard-Watts, managing director of Silverline Tools Ltd, said: "Power tool drag racing has been going on in America for years, since we decided to create the UK version we have had massive interest increasing every year, this year has been made even more exciting with a team entering from the USA, backed by the Little Wonder Company they seem pretty confident of victory!"

In 2007 this innovative drag-toaster, driven by a belt-sander, proved to be quite a crowd-puller.

Spectators are welcome at the event and there will be plenty to keep them busy so if you don't fancy entering the drag races come along and enjoy a host of entertainment for all the family. The Silverline Dragster will be at the event with five times FIA Champion driver, Dave 'Grumpy' Wilson. At the end of the day, Dave will do a spectacular burnout in the 3,000 horsepower, 270mph Dragster! Live rallying and drifting displays will also be taking place with the opportunity of passenger rides! Dream car rides will also be available in a Ferrari 360 and a Dodge Viper.

The Bristol Hot Rod Association will line-up some amazing hot rods and Santa Pod are providing a colourful display of mini dragsters whilst the Summer Supercar Show and cavalcade from Haynes International Motor Museum will include rare machines such as a Ferrari Enzo F40, Jaguar XJ220 and McLaren F1 GTR!

For a quieter thrill, the Silverline hot air balloon will be offering tethered flights. You will be able to get within touching distance of the incredible 42ft Racing Silverline P1 powerboat, with 850 horsepower it really is a force to be reckoned with! Pilot Drew Langdon and Co-Pilot Jan Falkowski will be on location signing autographs, as will Darren Turner who will be at the event with the Silverline sponsored Seat BTCC car.

Children will be kept busy with lots of competitions and the Scalextric challenge wagon, which is sure to be a hit with the youngsters (and no doubt some of the adults too)! Watch out for the Racing Silverline t-shirts which will be fired into the crowd at different times of the day - catch one if you can!

For a rest from the action, spectators can tour 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.

Come along to the Silverline Power Tool Drag Racing day - it's a real family day out with something for everyone and plenty of high octane action, this is an event like no other!

Tickets available for promotional use
Photographs of previous entries available

A wide variety of specially constructed machinery took part in last year's Silverline Power Tool Drag Race and competition was fierce. Declan Hicks, the UK Drifting champion, drove a spectacular 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, while a belt sander-driven toaster came complete with toast!

Power tool drag racing is not just for celebrities - anyone can enter with an equal chance of winning. The sport is popular among DIY enthusiasts, builders, engineering students, hardware retailers, families, children, mums and dads. Anyone can use their ingenuity to turn an angle grinder into a drag racing device, to make a circular saw a speed machine or to build a winner based on a chainsaw. There are no limits to the resourcefulness and creativity people can bring to their project.

The information above is supplied courtesy of Haynes Publishing, please credit accordingly if you intend to use it. For more information or to request a review copy please contact Rebecca at Eventageous PR on 01452 886380 or email Rebecca@eventspr.co.uk

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