Trolley team hopes to have wood on rivals (+video)

A group of workmates from Rotorua are all set to contest the Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix in Auckland as they eye a podium finish.

The group from Red Stag Timber has been hard at work over the last 10 weeks building a trolley to compete in the colourful event, being held tomorrow at the Auckland Domain.

The Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix sees home-made trolleys plummet down a steep road in the quickest time possible while going over jumps and other obstacles.

The Red Stag team - made up of Paul Laing, Andy Archer, Rodney Thurlow, Dave Joy, Steve Roberts and Karl Mossong - has created a trolley which they believe has the potential to podium.

"We raced the event two years ago, the last time they held it, and had the fourth fastest time and a lot of TV coverage with the big crash at the end," Mr Laing said. "And this year we want to go faster."

The 600m course at the Auckland Domain includes jumps, judder bars and a smoking tunnel. Teams are marked on their time and showmanship, having to do a skit at the top of the hill before taking off on the course.

"Red Stag hunters is our theme so it is the stag versus the hunters, and the stag makes an escape down the road," Mr Archer said.

He said the last time they competed in the event they had a trolley resembling a house, but decided to promote Red Stag this year.

The driver was chosen following a go-kart race which Mr Mossong won. Mr Roberts will also be riding in the two-man trolley tomorrow.

About 50 trolleys will compete, with coverage on TV3 tomorrow afternoon.

-See dailypost.co.nz for video of the trolley in action.