AC/DC Dairy DashThe challenge
Cornish, classic Jag lovers the Beasts of Bodmin take on The 7s, a team of easy-going Essex bikers. In an electrifying off-road contest, they race to construct battery-powered milk floats capable of conquering tough terrain to safely deliver a dozen crates of milk.
Beasts of Bodmin
Mysterious and graceful, stealthy yet fast, well, these Beasts of Bodmin may not quite be. However, the classics lovers spend more than their fair share of time with that feline of the vehicle world – the Jaguar. Enthusiasts and restorers of classic Jags and motorbikes, captain Brian and his partners-in-crime Steve and Spencer enjoy nothing more than a spin across Bodmin Moor. Tons of experience and a steely determination to hunt down and tear apart their opposition, the Beasts could be ones to watch out for!
Their expert is electric vehicle enthusiast Paul Compton. A self-taught electronics engineer who honed his mechanical skills building kit cars, Paul became interested in electric vehicles about 10 years ago. Since then he has raced across America in an electric Porsche 914 and built several EVs himself, including his current VW Scirocco conversion. He recently became deputy chairman of the Battery Vehicle Society and when he’s not busy with all that, he enjoys riding classic motorcycles across the country.
The 7s
Slick (Mick), Axel (Steve) and captain Bob make up The 7s. They are so-called because of their affiliation with a biking club in Southend of the same name. They are a bunch of leather-clad, beardy bikers from Essex. Into their Harleys and classic cars, these guys love their speed and have also built a sizeable trike, complete with 6-litre car engine, that can reach speeds of 180mph. Essex through and through, charismatic, here for a laugh and they don’t care what we ask them to build!
The 7s' expert is Scrapheap veteran Nick Bell, who previously lent his expertise on Backpack Cars and Locomotives. Nick is a freelance designer of recreational transport vehicles. He’s worked on everything from monorail systems to pier trams and was recently responsible for the electric floats at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The judge
This week’s judge is electric vehicle guru Robert Fowler. Robert has always been interested in alternative vehicles. Previously vice president of an American hovercraft company, in 1990 he turned his attention to greener modes of transport and founded the electric vehicle company, AVT. From his workshop in Somerset, he now converts all manner of conventional cars into cleaner running, quieter sounding EVs. Oh, and he’s recently invented a new lawnmower that will be available next year – you heard it here first!
