A total of 47 PC industry teams participated in the Fastest PC on Six Legs Runs Again, PC User’s third charity foot race. The event was co-sponsored by Context, A Plus Group and PC Compatibility. The object of the contest was to run a team of three around a one mile cross country course carrying their PC product. This was no problem for the portable PC entrants but a variety of means were used to shift the heavier machines, including shopping trollies and stretchers. The total receipts from the event have not yet been tallied but Paul Lavin, race co-ordinator and Associate Editor of PC User said that over UKP20,000 pounds will be going to BBC Children in Need. Fastest in the PC category was Dell which also placed second in the portable contest. Unisys came in second and third with its new own designed and built SX machine. Top portable time was set by Tulip, whose team kept running so as not to be late for the sponsorship handover ceremonies for Crystal Palace FC. Third place in the portable run was AST. Top multi-user system times went to Victor but Apricot deserves more than just an honourable mention. Thanks to the integral battery power supply, its machine was the only one that was running while it was, er, running. Its Unix entry came in second and Dell made it in third. IBM proved that it is putting a lot of effort into its software these days by setting the fastest (and second fastest) software times. WordPerfect came in third. Microsoft, keen not to be seen in competition with IBM, entered a mouse team and won the Fastest Peripheral on Six Legs trophy. The fastest time of the day was set by IBMer Jerry Watson while Unisys’ Ms Baxter took home the Ladies Trophy for the fastest female. Press relations and marketing consultancy, A Plus, Group had the Fastest Press Release on Six Legs. Montbuild, organisers of the Business Computing ’91 show got the Subtlety Award IXI was recognised as the most promising new comer and Victor was deemed the most improved. Tandon was nominated as the team that best combined speed with style while Access Technology had the best theme costume. Its base is in the building used to film Tales from the River Bank so what else could they do except come dressed as Ratty, Toad and Mole?
