Long road to street trolley derby

MARTIN DE RUYTER/Nelson Mail

FLASH, EH?: Driver Rowan Turner tries Safari Furniture's Spitfire Mk1 trolley for size ahead of the South Canterbury Finance Nelson Street Trolley Derby.

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It took 2000 hours to build, cost more than $10,000 and its goal in life will be fulfilled in just seconds.

After seven years in the pipeline, the Safari Furniture entry in this Saturday's South Canterbury Finance Nelson Street Trolley Derby has been unveiled.

The project began in earnest in mid-2007, with the carbon fibre Safari Spitfire Mk1 constructed using two moulds made out of wood and plaster of paris, under the watchful eye of technical adviser Sam Laidlaw.

Safari Furniture owner Lance Tighe described Mr Laidlaw as the "king of the hill", saying he had had a hand in all but one of the Nelson trolley derby's winners.

AutoCAD design software was used to create the futuristic-looking cart.

"If it isn't quick due to aerodynamics, it is going to be very disappointing," he said.

While the Mk1 could now be shown in public, the person who stumped up more than $10,000 to build and design it had to remain secret, Mr Tighe said.

He said the man, who did not want his identity revealed, was a "very private person".

Mr Tighe said he could confirm that the mystery backer had also played a role in the construction of the cart.

The 2000 hours spent on the cart equated to about one year of fulltime work for one person, he said.

Competition is hot, with more than 70 trolleys entered in derby races on Collingwood St on Saturday. The heats will start at 10.30am and the finals will kick off at 1.30pm.

- © Fairfax NZ News