Black Dragon roars challenge to the world's odd machines

By ALAN PERROTT

Strange, nocturnal sounds are rumbling from the bowels of Albany's little shop of mowers. Again.

In 2002, those sounds heralded Black Thunder, a squat, hydraulic beastie that became the ugly darling of Britain's top rating Full Metal Challenge television series.

But this is the year of the Black Dragon, an even mightier V8-powered offroader destined to rip up the Chinese countryside playing host to the inaugural International Strange Vehicle Games in October.

As with Full Metal Challenge, teams from the around the world have been invited to build outrageous vehicles and then race and bash them against each other over a series of events.

Black Thunder, the McCoid unique lawnmower-on-steroids, achieved cult status as the only entry to be built from the ground up and finished a creditable 4th equal.

Its first appearance on US television generated 600 emails in one day and the Albany store has become a daily stop-off for local autograph hunters looking for a taste of Kiwi inventiveness.

"We always happy to invite the kids in for a look," said team boss Trevor McCoid.

"I worry about how many New Zealanders are losing the talent to do this sort of stuff. It's all very well their old dads being able to tinker, but your modern man can't even change the tyre on his ride-on mower."

Their British success earned Team McCoid automatic entry to the televised Chinese event which organisers plan will be bigger and bouncier than anything permitted under the safety regulations which governed FMC.

To meet the harsh demands, Team McCoid have fitted a monster 6.2L Chevrolet diesel engine to the chassis of a Nissan Safari.

Once a turbocharger is fitted they predict it will crank out about 350 horse power and perform wheel spins with all four 36-inch monster tyres.

Once covered by a roll cage and body beaten into a giant metal dragon, the completed truck will be shipped to China for its first race on October 26.

The McCoids are reluctant to estimate the cost of their project, which is being boosted by offers of help from engineers and mechanically minded mates.

"We really want to show the world what the average Kiwi bloke can do with a bit of imagination and without big-money budgets," said Steve, the younger McCoid.

"Representing New Zealand is a big thing for us."

Waikato inventor Bruce Simpson, who created international headlines with his plan to build backyard cruise missiles, was also invited to enter.

But on his website, aardvark.co.nz, the bankrupted scientist said he would be unable to raise the money.

"Maybe if it involved researching craft shops or tracing the route that hip-hop took to get to New Zealand, the Government would likely send me on my way with a packed lunch and a pat on the head.

"But alas, it's just a chance to demonstrate NZ's ingenuity and engineering abilities and we all know that such things are far less important than things such as the arts."

Grunt machine

* The Black Dragon is powered by 6.2L Chevrolet diesel engine fitted to the chassis of a Nissan Safari.

* Once a turbocharger is fitted it will crank out about 350 horse power and perform wheel spins with all four 36in monster tyres.