Basket slalom, four square, "hot shot" basketball dunk, pallet ballet and trailer hitch - welcome to the wacky world of the US forklift rodeo circuit.

Planning is in progress for the third annual Franklin County Forklift Rodeo, scheduled for February 7-8, 2003.

While the official venue is still to be confirmed, rodeo marketer and forklift sponsor Hy-Tek Material Handling Inc says the popularity of the 2002 event, which drew 26 corporate entries from Franklin County businesses, assures its success.

Hy-Tek marketing manager Claire Rigot told Forkliftaction.com News the forklift rodeo had been popular with corporations, because it "gives them a motivational tool and incentive to improve teamwork, morale, and safety in their own workplaces". Some companies even held trials to determine who would represent them.

While most events were designed to simulate real-life industrial situations, some were strictly skill events, Ms Rigot said.

The top two teams from the Franklin County event could be invited to compete at the All-Ohio Forklift Rodeo Competition, run by the safety and hygiene division of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation as part of the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo.