Brisbane Times
Dr Shock's electrifying Christmas display is visible from space
Fri December 24, 2010 12:49pm
Many go to enormous lengths to deck out their houses with lights and decorations over the holiday season, but few can claim their elaborate displays earned them a Guinness world record.
Australia's very own Dr Shock, Peter Terren, from Bunbury in Western Australia, regularly uses hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity to create elaborate art he calls "electrickery". The country doctor documents his displays on his website and has developed a worldwide cult following.
Terren's Christmas projects are some of his favourites - last year he created a nine-metre high Christmas tree using lightning-like sparks from a tesla coil and long-exposure photography; this year he's strapped a Christmas tree to a bicycle with a front light that is so powerful it could be seen from the International Space Station with the same intensity as a bright star (when pointed at the sky).
"I would love to send some Morse code to the International Space Station," said Terren, 54.
He has applied to Guinness for the "world's brightest bike light" record, saying he has done his research and, at 100,000 lumens, his creation is five times brighter than any other bike light he's seen.
"The current world record holder in Guinness looks pale by comparison," he said.
Terren said he got the idea for the project on one of his night-time bicycle rides. He does not own a car.
"I have had kangaroos jump out in front of me so this gives me the upper hand," he said.
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