The Test
Our teams started the day in the car park of Tamworth Snowdome. Tinker time for the Cement Mixers meant desperately trying to attach the belt to their snowmobile drums; while the Turbo Taxis added a belly pan and a natty paint job.
Inside the snowdome was a 250-metre track, two long straights, four 90-degree corners and a blacked-out chicane section to simulate night driving conditions. That would be hard enough on a proper snowmobile!
The team that clocked up the fastest single time would be the winners.
Round one
First up – the Turbo Taxis with Dink in the driving seat. She tried valiantly but lost traction and dug the machine into the snow. No time set.
Next – the Cement Mixers with Captain Everton. He got a great start on their motorbike-based snowmobile, but soon crashed into the scenery. So again, no time set.
Round two
Fearless Turbo Taxi man Matt gunned the machine but came to a crashing halt in Dink's snow hole. Those aggressive steel rims again bit too deep into the snow, stalling the machine.
Then Taxis' Captain Herman had to watch in horror as his team's chance of moving into the next round evaporated before his eyes – Sam from the Cement Mixers was speeding round the course. He crossed the finish line with a blistering speed of 48 seconds.
Round three
This was it. With a steely glint in his eye Herman headed down the first straight at a great pace. He approached the second corner revving wildly, sliding around it like he had driven snow trikes all his life. Shooting over the finish line his time was confirmed as 42 seconds. The Taxis were back in it.
The Cement Mixers' last rider, Mark, was determined to put in a good time – maybe too determined. With one last corner to go he blipped the throttle and lost control, burying the bike in the safety barriers.
It's was the Turbo Taxi's day – Herman's heroic run was enough to clinch victory.
