CO2 vapour trails burst from each machine in the closest battle ever fought at GCCC. Some of the best racing was seen with hundredths of a second separating some competitors.  Comical commentators Lucas Tidy and Coen Oosen called the action and communicated the tension as racing progressed toward the semi-finals.

Year 10 Design Technology engineering students designed and constructed their own CO2 powered balsa wood dragsters based on their studies in the aerodynamics of Formula 1 and drag racing cars. Students investigated the principles of friction reduction and the properties of various plastic and metal materials to design and construct an efficient axle system.

The 21 competitors faced a double elimination challenge to decide the overall winner. There were many close races averaging 1.3 seconds over the 20-metre track. The Grand Final was between “Turbo” (Bowen Pike) and “The Pedo Van” (Joshua Pedersen).  In the best of three final, Turbo clenched the first race by only one thousandth of a second; however, The Pedo Van won the second race to even the score.  Bowen Pike’s Turbo won the deciding race by five hundredths of a second.  Commentators and fellow competitors were ecstatic over the close finish.  Congratulations to all competitors, pit-crews and officials – a great adrenalin rushing competition.

Podium finishers (Right to Left), Bowen Pike (First Place), Joshua Pedersen (Second Place) and Marshall Currie (Third Place) are pictured with their trophies. The trophies were designed using CAD software and the graphics engraved using Laser cutting technology.

Brad Hampson, HOD Industrial Design and Technology