HPV Race Finish 2012

In an exciting finish to the 22nd RACV Energy Breakthrough endurance trial, Bendigo Senior Secondary College took out the chequered flag in the 24-hour endurance trial with St Margaret’s of Berwick taking out the Open Class.

Hot conditions and a lack of wind provided near perfect conditions for competitors across the four days of events held at Princes Park Maryborough. Teams in the 24-hour endurance trial made the most of the fine weather, setting a cracking pace on the track.

The excellent weather, compared to previous years when it has experienced torrential rain, storms and scorching heatwaves, made this event the smoothest ever.

Event Convenor John Stafford, said it there had been some great action on the track with the school teams showing fantastic spirit and endurance in the hot conditions.

A record total of 379 school teams and 6000 students competed in self-built, human and hybrid-powered vehicles as well as more basic pushcarts. More than 12,000 spectators turned out to support students and enjoy the action.

During the year students and teachers designed and built their environmentally-friendly vehicles as part of the school’s curriculum, often with the help of parents and local industry.

The winning team in the 24-hour trial, Bendigo Senior Secondary College, set themselves the challenge of using their proven design template and their combined skills to build a low-cost vehicle in one day.

“This team proved that building a vehicle can be cost effective and it can be competitive which is a great message for all the teams that they don’t necessarily have to have the most expensive vehicle to be high up in the trial,” said Mr Stafford.

“The skills these students have learned during the year have allowed them to construct this vehicle safely and demonstrates the knowledge they have acquired during the year has really been put to good use.”

Energy Breakthrough involves three stages – presentations to judges, scrutineering, and design and assessment of the vehicles by RACV engineers and track events for various categories. St Margaret’s took out the Open win with excellent results in this section.

Each team has eight riders and their vehicles can cover more than 800km along the 1.3km trial circuit during the 24 hour event. The Bendigo Senior Secondary College winning team “DIY” did 890 km and 687 laps during the course of the trial.

The event has become renowned as Australia’s “Green Grand Prix”, the premier science, technology and environment event sparking student interest in these areas by offering a hands-on experience.

RACV Event Co-ordinator Ernest Litera said teams continued to amaze the organisers with their vehicle construction and design.

“We’ve seen some fantastic action on the track from the teams and once again they have raised the bar in terms of quality design and construction,” said Mr Litera.

“Those taking part just love this event whatever the weather and every year it just gets bigger and better. The event is all about teamwork through all aspects of the trial and it’s evident that goal is being met by the teams and the schools involved.”

For more results, visit our 2012 Results page.