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[ The challenge and teams | Result | Bakewells' diary | Atoms' diary | Science | Related links ]
Mower better blues
The scene was set for a hare and tortoise race … a 650cc Fiat engine pitted against an 8hp lawnmower. The presiding judge, Professor John Hetherington of the Royal Military College of Science, put his money on the complex and powerful Bakewell vehicle. But the Atoms were not cowed and firmly believed in their mantra 'slow and steady wins the race'.
The teams had only one crack at completing the course. First up were the Bakewells. These motorcycle enthusiasts from Derbyshire carved their way through the chicanes and under the obstacles in their path in their ground-hugging vehicle only to stall ominously as they entered the sinister warehouse. It turned out they had a broken clutch cable – easily remedied but not easily forgiven. They could restart the race but with a two-minute penalty.
Whilst the Bakewells fixed their motor, the Atoms stepped up for their run. Slowly pulling away from the start line, the team of expats realised they had serious traction problems. However, acrobatic work by expert Jim Chalmers got them restarted and the Atoms chugged their way into the base. Again traction problems had them break the laser beam – a 10-second penalty – and then fail on the steep ramp – 20 seconds added. But the Atoms got the briefcase and got out with a cumulative time of 11 minutes 40 seconds. Not light-speed but a home run for the Atoms and their mad mower.
A twist in the tale
The Bakewells were back on the start line and fired up, knowing they had two minutes already on the clock. As Lisa cried '3-2-1-GO!', they were off, blazing down the course and into the warehouse. Their air bag system functioned perfectly and they turned tight corners, cleared the laser and got the briefcase in just a couple of minutes. On target for an incredible time, the Puddings faced the obstacle that had defeated the Atoms … the ramp.
Could their inflating pivot see them rise above trouble? Unfortunately, we never found out. Putting down the gas, expert John Ricketts discovered to his horror that the cam shaft twisted like an 'aniseed twist'. There was no more drive and the race had to be abandoned.
A deflated and enormously frustrated team were forced to concede defeat to the Atoms. Such is the way in these contests. After all, doesn't Bond always get the better of his heavily armed adversaries? Sometimes simple is the best.