D Wednesday, December 2, 2009 METRO 3 FOR INFORMATION ON THE SANTA BEAR APPEAL OR TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE CALL FREEPHONE 1800 612 612 OR LOG ONTO WWW.CRC.IE With a few modifications, this lawnmower can cut grass... and do 160kmh Blade runner One man went to mow and go: Don Wales, nephew of Sir Donald Campbell, on the grass-cutting machine he hopes will achieve speeds of more than 160kmh Pictures: PA FORGET the Brawn motor racing champions this driver would fit in better with the Lawn team. Don Wales has proved he is at the cutting edge of speed by coming up with a 160kmh (100mph) lawn- mower. And the British race de- mon is hoping to drive his blades of glory into the record books. Mr Wales, who is the nephew of legendary racer Sir Donald Campbell, already holds the world land-speed record for a car driven by steam but hopes to raise the bar with his mower. The machine has been spe- cially modified for the attempt next year, when Mr Wales and his five technicians hope to smash the 80mph (128kmh) record set by Bob Cleve- land of the US in 2006. It is a really exciting project and I am delighted to be part of it. How often do you get to drive a lawnmower at more than 100mph? Mr Wales said of his turf assignment. Team organiser Stephen Vokins added: This started out as a daft idea that every- one laughed at but nobody is laughing now. Be under no illusions this is not a collection of blokes standing around in a shed wondering what to do until the pub opens. We have all sorts of experts on board: an aerodynamics expert, a fuel additives expert all sorts. The attempt is due to take place on Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire, Wales, in February and, as part of Guinness World Records rules, the mower must be able to cut grass. Don was the test driver of Inspira- tion, which broke the 103-year-old world speed record for a steam vehicle after achieving an average of 223kmh in California this year. BY JO STEELE Coup version: After cutting grass, the mower itself gets chopped and the blades come off to make it faster and saferAttempt: Don JEDWARD will be competing for the top spot at an awards ceremony with X Factor judges Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh next month. The Lucan twins, ejected from the TV talent show last month, have been nominated for Funniest Double Act at the Loaded Laftas. Walsh, who mentored 18-year-olds John and Edward Grimes (pictured), is also up for the title alongside judge Cowell. Comedian Michael McIntyre is nominated for Funniest Man, TV Show, Stand Up and DVD at the bash in London on January 27. Cowell goes head-to-Jed X FACTOR contestants are more likely to get the boot if they sing near the start of the show, researchers have found. Data from 150 editions of the X Factor and Pop Idol were compiled to prove the theory that a contestants fate does not boil down to whether they can sing. In eight live X Factor shows this year, four singers were eliminated after being either the second or third act to perform. When contestants sang later in the evening they were less likely to be eliminated, the researchers from Cambridge University found. X Factor exits explained index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html