Dyson: how to turn a vacuum into a racing car

April 13th, 2012

If the world was only full of engineers things would be functional, if a bit boring; if it was full of artists things would be colourful but nothing would get done!

At Dyson, a happy mix of creation and invention plus a little time on their hands has led a team of engineers to let their hair down and dabble in drag racing.

Using the motor from a handheld Dyson vacuum cleaner the engineers have crafted racing vehicles, just for fun.

It makes sense, Dyson is internationally recognised for novel technologies such as super cyclonic sucking and ergonomic designs that make the dreaded household chore that much more enjoyable.

And after all, those clever lads and lasses should also have aerodynamics pretty dialed too, after inventing the bladeless fan.

The creative side of individual engineers was on show as they constructed their own machine with different vacuum parts for different styles and sized vehicles.

Keri Algar

Having once had to sit on the washing machine to stop it from bouncing into oblivion, Keri is today delighted with the new (smoother running) technologies that make housework easier every day. A self-confessed lazy-bones, Keri seeks out quirky inventions that ease the human workload, such as the robotic vacuum cleaner (wow). And as soon as someone figures out a Jetsons-like self-cleaning house, she will happily lay her pen to rest and retire from appliance journalism. Until then, her pick is a fridge that will tell her smartphone when it's time to pick up more beer on the way home. Magic.