100s watch go-carts hurtle and trundle down hill (From Bucks Free Press)

100s watch go-carts hurtle and trundle down hill in Cookham Dean

12:31pm Tuesday 13th September 2011 in Cookham By Lawrence Dunhill

NUTTY contraptions took the streets of Cookham Dean at the weekend for the fifth annual Gravity Grand Prix.

Hundreds turned out to watch 24 extravagant go-karts roll down Church Road on Sunday, including a bathroom unit, a pirate ship and Star Wars X-Wing.

Blue Arrow, driven by Richard Matthews, flew down the hill to win the time trial for the second year running, in a time of 1 minute and 9 seconds.

Though finishing half way down the field, Guy Wooten picked up the prize for best technical design with Slipper One, a beautifully crafted boat.

Peter Bowden and his team were second slowest down the course but picked up the best novelty cart prize, for their ingenious shower and toilet design.

It is hoped the event will have raised £10,000 for Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance through stalls and sponsorship.

The Hoola Hoola team, representing Cookham florists Fleur De La Maison, said they had raised more than £9,000.

Team member Nikki Thompson, 39 added: “This is our third time and we've always done a floral theme. It's great fun, but we never go for speed, we go for looks.”

Also in the cart were Maria Tooley, 37, and Christopher Chapelhow, 40.

Rogue Squadron, a group of friends who met at Sir William Borlase's in Marlow, had built a Star Wars fighter jet and were all dressed as Jedi Knights.

Fraser Callingham, 23, from Bourne End, said before heading down the hill: “I'm a bit of a Star Wars nut.

“We were Thunderbirds last year and had a pretty fantastic crash. One of the wheels collapsed and we rolled over. We learned our lesson not to go for the fastest time.

Also in the X-Wing ship were Nick Stops and Matt Edes, both 23.

The event is staged by fundraising group, The Kaffirs of Cookham Dean. Geoff Elton, one of the organisers, said: “What a great day everyone had for this, our fifth year, with even the after effects of hurricane Irene, carried over from east coast USA, abating for us most of the time.”

Team Manilla Thrilla won a prize for capturing the 'spirit of the event'.