Developer Tony Keating introduced the car to an audience of over 100 people before it descended from the studio roof to a pyrotechnics display and performances by the Wakefield Wildcats cheerleaders. X Factor contestant Laura White and MC Gordon Burns warmed up the crowd, which included governors from The University of Bolton.
Guests were then invited to inspect the car, which is the fourth car to be developed by Astley-based Keating Supercars, founded by engineer Anthony Keating in 2006. The key to the latest model is a new kind of supercharger, developed in-house by Mr Keating alongside experts from the University of Bolton's automotive engineering department. It can go from 0 - 60mph in just two seconds.
LS-Live studio coordinator Adam 'Bullet' Bettley said, "We were approached by Tony Keating and The University of Bolton's Vice Chancellor Dr George Holmes to produce a spectacular show to promote the launch of The Bolt at our production rehearsal arena.
"We had just three days to pull the production together, the staging, lighting, sound, pyrotechnics and crew, so it was a challenge, but with the support of the suppliers we work closely with we managed to put on a great show."
LS-Live used one of its house stages incorporating the easy-build LiteDeck top lock system, with one of its rental turntables built into the middle for the car once it had reached the stage. The team also built a LiteDeck platform for the car to sit on, which was hidden in the roof at the start of the show and brought down on a kinesis flying system.
HSL Group provided the lighting and video equipment for the show, whilst BPM SFX put together a pyrotechnics display and Stage Pro supplied the PA system. Backstage Academy students assisted the production team during the event.
The University of Bolton's Vice Chancellor Dr George Holmes commented on the event, "Astonishing; it just shows what LS-Live and Backstage Academy can do and also what a talented engineer Tony is. We formed the Bolton Mechanics Institute as it used to be 189 years ago and here we are today with a world leading car, what else can I say other than astonishing?"
Said Tony Keating, "If I was looking for the world to move, I came to the right place! These guys built a fantastic show in three days, Bullet has been brilliant, it's a wonderful arena and it's good to be on a stage where so many big artists have been."
(Jim Evans)
