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Solar Car and Boat |
Solar Boat and Car Challenge
Syndal South Primary School has been involved in the Victorian Model Solar Vehicle Challenge since 1998. The challenge is to design, build and race a model solar boat and car, which children have made out of recycled materials. It requires that each team member makes a commitment to work as part a team. Over a few terms the teams plan, design, build a prototype, test and make a model solar powered vehicle. They are judged on the process to get to the challenge, poster (explaining the process), team costume and finally the boat or car performance.
During 2007 we had one solar car team and four boat teams entered into the Challenge. We started the process in April and by the competition in October we were ready to compete against other primary and secondary schools from around the state. It was a very exciting day which we had all been looking forward to for a long time.
We are very fortunate to have the expertise of engineers and training engineers to assist the students in their scientific investigations. They research the effects of wind drag, look at wiring, electrical circuits, use of renewable sources of energy and the stability of the vehicles they create as well as other areas.
2007 Challenge
Our boat teams competed on the Saturday. The Bones performed well and completed all of its races with some very close finishes. The team of Kristen, Anna & Dean even got an honourable mention in the costume prize category.
Also competing in the boat section was Diamond Back crewed by Yan and Ryan. On the day the boys worked hard making some final adjustments to there boat and they had their best performance at the end of the day.
The team Firefly crewed by Allan, Julian & Alastair, got down to the top 32 of 70 boats in the competition.
With the fourth team Awesome Foursome of Steven, Aydin, Aaron & Ryan beating the Syndal South P.S race record by an amazing 3 seconds.
All of the boat teams at the end of a successful day
Post race excitement of winning
Firefly, at the start of a race
Repairs and adjustments are made up until the last minute
Our car competed on both days with exceptional results. On the Saturday Viper team (Roy, Matthew, Lucas and Benedikt) were benefited from the 80% sun levels and the car was going so fast that it spun off the track a couple of times. Day two was a knockout competition and unfortunately we got knocked out before the finals, but were very pleased with our top 18 spot. We won the best team uniform many thanks to our sponsor, Ultratune (Croydon).
Viper team after winning the team uniform award
Viper off to an excellent start around the track
Congratulations to our Syndal South Solar Challenge teams. This year has been our most successful to date with outstanding performances by all teams and their cars and boats.
Thank you to all our supporters who enjoyed a very entertaining competition. A very big thank you to Steve, Ian, Ron, Alvin and Ivan for mentoring the students in 2007.
Mrs Giddings.