Motorised British wheelbarrow aims to set world speed record

Kevin Nicks poses with his motorised wheelbarrow and shed, he hopes to set a new speed record and also hopes to raise people's spirits following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), he has previously broken speed records for the Fastest Shed, Churchill, Britain, May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

The creator of the world's fastest shed has turned his hand to another niche mode of transport: a motorised wheelbarrow built on a zero budget during the coronavirus lockdown in Britain.

Kevin Nicks, a 57-year-old former gardener from Oxfordshire, said he was aiming to set a Guinness world speed record on the "Barrow of Speed" once the pandemic had passed.

More immediately, however, he said the wheelbarrow showed what was possible with limited access to materials, a positive attitude and some creativity.

Kevin Nicks hopes to set a new speed record with his motorised wheelbarrow and also hopes to raise people's spirits following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Churchill, Britain, May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

"I set myself a challenge to build a machine on zero budget because for some people money is tight," he said.

"Somebody donated a moped which wasn't running and I got that running. Everything else was just scraps and bits and pieces I had around.

"Now I have built this amazing machine which has actually turned out far better than I thought - it is such fun." 

Kevin Nicks poses with his motorised wheelbarrow, he hopes to set a new speed record and also hopes to raise people's spirits following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Churchill, Britain, May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Nicks, who rides the barrow standing on a rear platform, said he would contact Guinness World Records about an attempt to set a speed record when the pandemic was over, most likely at Elvington airfield in Yorkshire, north England.

"It'll be quite fun seeing that go down the runway doing around 40 miles (65 km) an hour," he said. "And believe me, standing up, 40 miles an hour is pretty fast enough." 

Nicks built the world's fastest shed in 2015 and three years later it reached 101.5 mph at Pendine Sands in Wales.

Kevin Nicks rides his motorised wheelbarrow, he hopes to set a new speed record and also hopes to raise people's spirits following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Churchill, Britain, May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

 

(Reporting by Ben Makori, Writing by Paul Sandle; editing by Stephen Addison)

Kevin Nicks rides his motorised wheelbarrow, he hopes to set a new speed record and also hopes to raise people's spirits following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Churchill, Britain, May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Kevin Nicks rides his motorised wheelbarrow, he hopes to set a new speed record and also hopes to raise people's spirits following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Churchill, Britain, May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

A motorised wheelbarrow built by Kevin Nicks who hopes to set a new speed record and also hopes to raise people's spirits following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Churchill, Britain, May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh