The Broccoli Boys from Gisborne entered the Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix in Auckland over the weekend with a mini tractor called Ted. Photo / Alisha Lovrich-Red Bull Content Pool
The Broccoli Boys from Gisborne entered the Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix in Auckland over the weekend with a mini tractor called Ted. Photo / Alisha Lovrich-Red Bull Content Pool
A diverse line-up of 52 tricked-out trolleys were piloted by two people from each team through a course which included obstacles, hills, tricky corners and multiple paths.
The Broccoli Boys (and one girl) - a team of workshop mechanics from Gisborne company LeaderBrand - built a trolley based on a mini-tractor they affectionately named Ted, and donned fitting broccoli costumes on the day.
A statement from the team said the LeaderBrand workshop had recently seen many new people join the team, so they thought entering the Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix would be a novel and entertaining team-building exercise.
LeaderBrand grows a lot of broccoli and it is one of New Zealand’s favourite vegetables, hence the team name and concept.
The Broccoli Boys comprised Ethan Gordon, Drew Dear, Bryce Kelly, Matt Donaldson, William McIntyre, Graham Torrie and Silvana Ciotti.
Gisborne team The Broccoli Boys said they had an awesome time at the Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix,describing their preparation and on-the-day experience as one of the most engaging and successful team-bonding activities. Photo / LeaderBrand
“The most challenging part of the whole experience was choreographing the dance and then trying to remember all the moves at the beginning of the race,” McIntyre said.
“Making the trolley and doing the designs was the fun part,” Kelly said.
Donaldson called it “an epic event” to be a part of.
“Turns out Kiwis really do love their broccoli and we had heaps of support,” he said. “Bryce did an awesome job of getting Ted the Tractor down the race, however, turns out our broccoli costume ended up acting like a parachute and slowed us down a bit.
“We’ve recommended other teams at LeaderBrand give it a go next year.”
Unfortunately, the Broccoli Boys did not make the top three.
The overall winners were the defending champs from 2015 - the last time the derby was held - Red Stag Timber of Rotorua with their Flinstone-themed Yaba Daba Do.
Their victorious time of 55.948 seconds won them a World of Red Bull experience at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, including tickets, flights and accommodation.
