Teams from Penrith’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School have qualified for the finals of a national competition with a car they designed and built themselves.
The Race for the Line Rocket Car Challenge pits student teams against each other to design and make the fastest rocket powered car they can, and then race their finished cars. Every team’s car will use the same size rocket motor and compete over the same track distance.
Two of QEGS’ year 7 teams came 2nd and 3rd in the regional finals, with speeds of 71mph and 68 mph respectively, carrying them through to compete in the national finals at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, in June.
The winning teams on race days will have the cars that have the most efficient aerodynamics, have lower mass and that have safe, well designed wheels that reduce friction and can survive the forces of a high speed run.
QEGS came 2nd and 3rd and these teams have qualified for the National Finals on June 27 in London. Fort Vale the engineering company have offered to help with funding transport/accommodation. It would involve 8 students in total.
Michael Ellis, Head of Computer Science at QEGS, said: “Our students had a great day designing, building and racing their cars. They have understood the need to design cars that have efficient aerodynamics, have lower mass and that have safe, well designed wheels that reduce friction and can survive the forces of a high speed run. I look forward to seeing them compete again in London.”
