Jeremy Clarkson endorsed car to defend title

Media release

September 1, 2010

Jeremy Clarkson endorsed power tool drag racing car to defend title in Christchurch

The car that won New Zealand’s first ever power tool drag racing competition at Top Gear Live last year is back on the track this weekend after receiving plaudits from the show’s host, Jeremy Clarkson.

Power tool drag racing is a new sport in New Zealand, but is big in the United States. In the same way that ‘Tim the Tool Man Taylor’ used to build things on the popular TV series, Home Improvement, participants make their own racing cars using off the shelf power tools.

The car that won at Top Gear Live was an angle grinder with four skill saws as wheels. It was built by Canterbury/Westland area manager for the Electrical Training Organisation (ETCO), Ken Hay. ETCO is a national company that trains and places apprentice electricians.

“It’s been lots of fun. Jeremy and his team at Top Gear loved the car and thought the power tool drag racing event was the best part of the three day show,” he says.

Mr Hay’s car is competing at PlaceMakers in Mandeville Street between 12pm and 4pm this Saturday in the Christchurch regional competition for the right to defend his national title in Auckland on September 18.

“It’s about a bunch of kiwi blokes getting together and building something modified with high horsepower. The big difference is that we’re using household power tools, not cars,” Mr Hay concludes.

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