Team boss Stephen Vokins and driver Don Wales
Project Runningblade - the plan to wrest the lawnmower land speed record (yes, you read that right) from the Yanks - is approaching its climax.
We first reported on Project Runningblade's world record aspirations back in December, when they hoped to take a more-or-less everyday garden lawnmower beyond the100mph barrier in 'early 2010'.
Now a date has been set. The team and driver Don wales - the nephew of Donald Campbell - will aim for grass-cutting glory at Pendine sands on 22-23 May, where it will attempt to better the existing record of 80.8mph that was set in 2006 at Bonneville Salt Flats by American Bob Cleveland.
"This is a proper record, and building a lawnmower capable of speeds well into 3 figures is no easy feat undertaken in an afternoon," says Stephen Vokins, Project Runningblade's team principal. "For a start, it still has to be a lawnmower, capable of cutting grass properly. And then it has to obey the laws of physics that will try to stop it going so fast, both through drag and also aerodynamics. There is a real danger that if the aerodynamics are wrong, it will flip up in the air, with disastrous results.
Runningblade in its earlier Mk1 form
"Be under no illusions: this is no collection of blokes standing around in a shed wondering what to do until the pub opens. Backed by some of Britain's finest companies who are contributing their expertise and funds to the project, this is a hand-picked team of professionals and experts in their fields, all bringing their knowledge and experience to achieve something that no-one has ever done before - to crack the ton on a ride-on lawnmower!"
We admire your bullish spirit, Stephen. He's right, too - the Mk2 version that will take on the record is a serious piece of kit with larger wheels, a lower, longer and wider chassis, and a more powerful Kawasaki motor than the first prototype revealed last year.
Have a look at the video below of the team testing on 23 April at a 'mere' 65mph. Best of luck on the 22nd, Team Runningblade!