Museum of Science and Industry

Visitors to Manchester's MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) have been defying the laws of science this week with an ‘Upside-Down’ car race. 

But rather than clinging to the seats of real rally cars, they have been gripping handsets in an exciting race of remote-controlled toy cars in the museum’s gift shop. 

The Vertical Racer is being demonstrated in the shop today and literally defies the laws of gravity as it whizzes up and down walls and even across ceilings. 

The brainchild of entrepreneur Vernon Kerswell, 20, a student at Manchester Business School and his team of developers, the zippy motor uses reverse hovercraft technology using air to make it stick onto walls so it doesn’t leave wheel marks. It can be driven forward and backward and even has head and tail lights.

"I'm delighted to be showcasing the anti-gravity car at MOSI. The Museum seems the perfect place to demonstrate an innovative piece of new technology, especially one which was developed in Manchester. The car seems to attract such a wide range of people whenever it is demonstrated in the shop, as they are so intrigued about the way it clings to surfaces and defies the rules of gravity. Because of its unique feature, people can drive it on walls, windows and ceilings anywhere in the house. It uses an air vacuum, doesn’t leave a mark, and if anything it will clear cobwebs!"

MOSI’s Retail Manager, Helen Steadman, said: “The anti-gravity car is attracting lots of interest from our shoppers and is currently in the top slot in our list of Top Ten Gifts for Christmas,” she said.

Suitable for ages 8+, it retails at £30 and comes in three colours, black, red and blue. It will soon be joined on the MOSI shelves by other remote-controlled vehicles in Vernon’s Extreme Fliers range, namely a military Apache helicopter, a Chinook helicopter and a spooky UFO.

The MOSI shop, which is open daily from 10am – 5pm, has compiled a list of Top Ten gifts to buy this Christmas, with Vertical Racer ranked as number one. Other presents include kitchen chemistry sets, brain-busting puzzles and clocks made from recycled circuit boards. (The full list of Top Ten Best Sellers is available on request).

MOSI visitors will be taking part in a gravity-defying car race today at 12 noon in the Museum shop. For more information or images please call Diane Inglis on Tel: 0161 606 0173 or Sarah Roe on 0161 606 0176 m: 07847 372647.

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