Brothers in Arms

Dick, Bobby and David Strawbridge (lieutenant colonel, major and captain respectively) are three brothers from Northern Ireland. They were blasted out of Scrapheap Challenge last year by the Chemical Brothers in target practice with their home-made cannons. The three soldiers, who have seen action in many of the world’s trouble spots, returned this year to defend their honour – and did so decisively against the Mothers of Invention in the last quarter final (Bridging Machine), against the Techno Teachers in the second semi-final (Giant Mower) and, ultimately, against the NERDS in the series final (Fireboat).

Now these military siblings have to face a trio of distinctly 'different' opponents. Will army discipline triumph over free-wheeling weirdness?

Watch time-lapse videos of the Brothers in Arms in action.

To view the movies on this website, you may need to download a plug-in for your browser.

Go to the RealPlayer website to download RealPlayer.

^ top

Megalomaniacs

Winners of last year's series final, the Megalomaniacs are Nosh, Kev and Daz. Team captain is tattoo-covered Nosher, who's into scorpions and making his own jewellery. By day, he's a prototype sheet-metal worker – a panel-beater to you and me – and by night, he's a Royal Arch Druid of the Ancient Order of Druids. He's ably abetted by security officer Darren Cross. Darren is into motorcycle drag-racing, and prefers tattoos to jewellery and so has his wedding ring tattooed on his finger. Third member of the Megs is mechanic Kevin Chaplin. When he's not under the bonnet of his HGV lorry, he spends his time medieval sword-fighting.

Darren's drag-racing experience will be a definite boon in this ultimate challenge - not quite sure how druidness and medieval sword-fighting will help, though!

Watch time-lapse videos of the Megalomaniacs in action.

To view the movies on this website, you may need to download a plug-in for your browser.

Go to the RealPlayer website to download RealPlayer.

^ top

Brian Johnson is one of the top bike dragsters in the world. Now in his early 50s, he has had a keen interest in motorcycles since he was 15. He has been world champion, in the top fuel motorcycle league, and has held the world record several times.

www.brianjohnson.co.uk

^ top

John Wright has been an engineer, driver and drag-racing publisher and has served on various safety committees.

Neal Davis, retro-inventor and madcap mechanical creator, is one of Britain's finest hands-on engineers. He built up his experience in the RAF in a career that saw him service fighter planes, defuse bombs and eventually teach engineering. He has since turned his hand to many things: jet-powered tractors, remote-controlled steam engines and shoe-horning big engines (we mean really big – from planes!) into tiny cars. He has even built a machine that parks his car for him! Oh and, yes, he has built a walking machine, too!