http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/science/story/0,12996,1506025,00.html
Spray-on mud: the ultimate accessory for city 4x4 drivers
Ian Sample, science correspondent
A 4x4 getting muddy the traditional way. Photograph: David Sillitoe
It could be the ultimate accessory for the 4x4-driving city dweller:
spray-on mud. A few squirts and neighbours will think you spent the
weekend hurtling along muddy lanes looking for a country retreat,
rather than sitting in traffic on the way to drop the kids off before
your yoga class.
Like many of the best ideas, spray-on mud was dreamed up over a couple
of drinks down at the local. "We were in the pub talking about how
people drive these huge, pristine vehicles around cities and never
have any intention of going near the countryside," said Colin Dowse,
a business consultant in Shropshire who markets the product.
"With spray-on mud, they can make it look like they've been off-road
instead of just driving to the shops and back."
According to Mr Dowse, sales of the product, which retails at £7.95 a
bottle, are going well, particularly in America and in London. "If t
hey want an authentic look, there's not a lot else they can do. There's
not a lot of mud in Chelsea," he said.
According to the company's website, spray-on mud can help give your
friends, family and neighbours the impression you've just come back
from a day's shooting, fishing or visiting friends who live on a farm;
anything but driving around in town all day or visiting an out-of-town
retail park.
There is nothing special about the mud, which is collected locally,
but before it is bottled it has to be filtered to remove any stones
and other debris that could mark the vehicle's bodywork.
"People may want to look like they've been off-road, but they certainly
don't want any chips or scratches on the paintwork while they're doing
the school run," said Mr Dowse.
The company's website points out that it is illegal to use the spray to
obscure a vehicle's number plate and did not condone it being used to
avoid speed cameras.
"When you're spraying mud on your car, you can get it everywhere, but
obscuring the number plate is not what this product is for," said Mr Dowse.
Alan Weavis, who works in advertising and is based in Hammersmith, west
London, bought a bottle of spray-on mud for a friend's birthday.
"He's got this huge 4x4 Porsche Cayenne and as far as I know it's never
ever been to the country," he said. "I thought it was a funny present.
"It went down really well with everyone, although he thought I was
taking the mickey. Which is exactly what I was doing."
Tuesday June 14, 2005
The Guardian
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