The gravity-only powered racers compete on a 700 m downhill racetrack through the Auckland Domain.
Teams are expected to build trolleys to a theme and must perform a one-minute song/dance/skit before the race commences.
Scores are allocated for originality of concept, speed down the course and quality of performance (including spectacularity of crashes).
Races compete in pairs but elapsed time is the only speed criteria considered.
Winners were awarded a trip for the whole team to the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix motor race, or up to NZ$10,000 in other years.