LATEST NEWS
Thursday Daily Wrap – EBTV (2014) (Video)
Hooray - the 2014 RACV Energy Breakthrough has finally started!! On our first day, teams completed their Presentations, Judging and Scrutineering before the the day wrapped up with a two hour practice session on the Holden Track for the Primary HPV teams under drizzly skies.
2014 Contenders and Challengers
Let's take a look at some of the likely - and maybe not so likely - contenders lining up for this weekend's 24th edition of the RACV Energy Breakthrough. "When I arrived at the Energy Breakthrough back in 2000, the talk was all about Wonthaggi vs Kurnai for the win. But come Sunday, it was Bendigo Senior and De La Salle racing down to the wire... and it was only decided in the last 20 minutes. They both came outta no where. Will your team be the one that 'breaks through' (sorry, bad pun) from the pack?"
2014 Event Schedule
With just 7 days to go, (yes, only a week!) it’s time to start getting serious! The RACV Energy Breakthrough team have been working extensively over the past few weeks to attempt to bring you our best event yet, and today we bring you our 2014 Event Schedule. Along with the Information Kits, this schedule is essential for all team managers, teachers, parents and students to have a copy of to ensure the smooth running of the event.
St Margaret’s School HPV – ten years in the making: Interview with Terry Trevena
Human Powered Vehicles at St Margaret's School turns 10 this year. It might seem like they've been part of the field forever. Over that ten years they've won 65 categories, fostered 180 riders and built a groundswell of support from parents and ex-students who have kept the show on the road. Sure, many other schools have been involved for longer (Bairnsdale Primary School and Maryborough Education Centre have actually been to ALL 24 Energy Breakthroughs), but at this important milestone we felt it was worth looking a little closer at the man who has been at the helm, Terry Trevena.
Energy Expo: Good Food, Great Coffee, Interactive Exhibits & your chance to test ride an eBike for free
Test ride an electric bike (or eBike as they are more commonly referred) for free at this years RACV Energy Breakthrough Energy Expo along with 18 other expo exhibitors, including food and beverage, activities and some REALLY good coffee. A great idea to keep the whole family entertained whilst you're busy on track!
La Trobe University joins us in 2014
The RACV Energy Breakthrough is delighted to announce its newest partnership, a fantastic alliance with La Trobe University as the event’s Official Higher Education Partner.
2014 Information Kits are Here!
The 2014 Info Kits are now available online for download! The info kit is the everything guide to almost everything! This includes schedules, team names, maps and all kinds of fancy stuff! It's essential that all teams, parents, students and staff have a copy of the info kit to help us make the event run smooth.
RACV Energy Breakthrough wins back-to-back tourism awards
The RACV Energy Breakthrough has been named for the second year in a row, the Best Festival or Event at this year’s Victorian Tourism Awards held in Melbourne on Monday night.
Reef Rode RAGE Record Breaking Return!
Last month the determined Reef Rode RAFE (Ride Against Greenhouse Emissions) team arrived home from their successful 4,000km journey from Ballarat to Port Douglas. Along the way they raised funds and awareness of the need to protect Australia's Great Barrier Reef and broke the lap record at the RACQ Technology Challenge in Maryborough, Queensland.
Progress Report – Cobden Tech School – Terms 2 and 3, 2014
Catch-up on the latest progress from the Energy Efficient Vehicles crew at Cobden Technical School with this update from Team Manager, Chris Brooks, and his students. This year Cobden Technical School are sharing their journey in preparation for the 2014 RACV Energy Breakthrough. Through these progress reports at the end of each term, you’ll be able to find out what the students and teachers have been up to, what’s gone well, what’s not gone so well and what they’re looking forward to in the term ahead. We’ve put this together to showcase some of the schools involved, and to promote how they successfully operate and manage their Energy Breakthrough teams.
Coles Offer, Pit Requests and Camping Details
The RACV Energy Breakthrough is pleased to continue its partnership with Coles Maryborough as sponsor of the 2014 Coles Maryborough Try-athlon.
Event Report: Casey Fields, Round 3 (2014)
With near perfect racing conditions with light winds and sunshine the 96 teams that took to the track at Casey Fields on Saturday for Round 3 of the Victorian HPV Series, were up for a fun filled and fast paced 6 hours ahead of them.
Progress Report – Jells Park Primary – Term 3, 2014
To continue our series of 2014 Progress Reports, Team Manager Scott Zachariassen and the students at Jells Park Primary School check in on what has been a busy throughout Term 3 and a VERY busy Term 4.
Will you join our 2014 volunteer crew?
We're calling on you to join our team of over 700 volunteers to help make the RACV Energy Breakthrough one of Australia's and award winning premier education, science and technology events. We need people with muscles who can help us set up, people who can plan or administrate, people who can marshal, people who have ‘people skills’ and people who love to entertain.
Recommended viewing: Nicholas Stern: The state of the climate — and what we might do about it (video)
This week, the United Nations has been meeting in New York for its Climate Summit, enlisting the world to work together on a problem that’s too big for any one country to solve. We think this talk by Nicholas Stern is recommended watching for secondary students of the RACV Energy Breakthrough on the current state of the climate and what we might do about it. (It might help to prepare them for the Display & Presentation component too).
Race Photo Gallery: Australian International Pedal Prix (2014)
It was another massive weekend in Murray Bridge, South Australia for the 2014 Australian International Pedal Prix. There were plenty of thrills, spills and great racing amongst the 200-plus vehicles on track. Thanks to our super photo team of Nathan Boon and Katie Harris. We hope that through the 180 images in this photo gallery, you will gain some new ideas for your vehicles, capture some of the colour from the event and maybe spot a few current or past students from your school too.
When distance is no barrier: Reef Rode RAGE team are riding from Ballarat to Port Douglas
Beginning this weekend the team from Reef Rode RAGE embark on a 3,996km, 10-day mission to pedal their energy efficient vehicle (EEV) from Ballarat to the Great Barrier Reef and Port Douglas. They're also taking on the RACV Energy Breakthrough's sister event in Maryborough, Queensland - the RACQ Technology Challenge on September 13 - 14. Why are they called 'R.A.G.E'? Ride Against Greenhouse Emissions. Last week, RACV Energy Breakthrough reporter Katie Harris, spoke with Team Manager, Tony Davidson, to find out about Reef Rode RAGE and their adventure.
Event Report: Bendigo EEV/HPV Grand Prix (2014)
The recent inaugural 10-hour Bendigo EEV/HPV Grand Prix - held at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange - could well feature in many school's 2015 racing calendars. With relatively fine yet cool and dry conditions for most of the race with a slight shower in the early evening, 33 teams across 6 categories took to the track for the new race. This event has stepped up from a previous October warm-up event held in Bendigo.
Event Report: RAC Pedal Prix Busselton, WA
A very small crew of excited and dedicated Victorians ventured over to the Western side of Australia for the very first pedal prix race held at the Busselton track this weekend just past.
Eight Human Powered Vehicles play Ice Hockey (Video)
Sometimes the human powered vehicles schools build for the RACV Energy Breakthrough are sleek and light - but fragile. That’s okay, after all they are built for the challenge we set: to complete the most laps in 24 hours. But what if there was a human powered vehicle that could present a viable personal transport option?
To explore this notion, the Trisled team took eight of their Rotovelo Velomobiles to the Medibank Icehouse for a one-of-a-kind Ice Hockey Match.