Four drivers swapped their high-speed V8 Supercars for a more leisurely form of transport this morning when they took a Segway tour along the Swan River in Perth ahead of this weekend’s Perth 400.
V8 Supercar drivers Todd Kelly, Scott McLaughlin, Lee Holdsworth and Robert Dahlgren were provided with a quick training session in the Segway Tours WA Experience Zone by guide Paddy McAllister before they took to the picturesque Swan River foreshore.
The drivers were able to take in the sights including Barrack Street Jetty, Point Fraser Wetlands, Supreme Court Gardens, Perth cityscape, WACA Ground and Claisebrook Cove.
While Kelly was the most experienced of the four in a V8 Supercar, it was his first time on a Segway – but like the other drivers he took to it naturally and said he had a great time.
“The ride was the most fun I’ve had in a while!” Kelly said.
“The first 20 seconds on the Segway are so foreign but after that it just comes naturally.
“We had a couple of small crashes on tour and we might be having a stewards hearing later, but no major incidents!”
The competitive side came out in all the drivers as they held their own time trial competition in the Experience Zone. Holdsworth was the winner with a lap time of 50.07 seconds, and said it was typical for the guys to be competitive.
“It’s always a competition when you get together with other drivers, you always want to win,’ Holdsworth said.
“It was a great chance for me to see a bit more of Perth than I have before. I always love coming back here, so being able to Segway along the Swan River was good fun.”
Segway Tours WA operates a variety of 60 and 90 minute guided tours along the Swan River in Perth city and on WA’s favourite playground, Rottnest Island. Segways are two-wheeled self-balancing electric vehicles that are eco-friendly and endorsed by the drivers today as plenty of fun.
