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Post by speedsport on Feb 26, 2008 22:21:30 GMT
Phew, what a busy day! The Greenpower stand at the SETPOINT careers fair was well received and we think that we generated a fair amount of interest. Skipton High School brought along their car, 5 of the girls that are involved in the project, and a group of apprentices from their main sponsor - Rolls Royce at Barnoldswick. At times, it was difficult to compete with Lancaster University (on the next stand).... they had a formula student car, video display with (loud) soundtrack, lights, hands on stuff, everything! Of course, the success of "our" stand will become apparent in due course, measured either by requests to Greenpower for car kits or for specifications for DIY cars. I was particularly impressed with the fair organiser who was extremely knowledgeable about Greenpower & incredibly enthusiastic about the North West heats being held at Aintree. If nothing else, he will undoubtedly be very useful to Jeremy Way at Greenpower in the coming months as a source of introductions to local schools & colleges. He seemed to know all the "right people to speak to" even at schools who were not present. All in all a very useful exercise, though I do feel sorry for some of the teachers, who are clearly going to be pestered to death by some of their pupils in the coming days... "can't we build a car too Sir?" etc! Don't forget.. you can keep up to date with developments at Greenpower over the coming months by visiting their comprehensive website at www.greenpower.co.uk/about/ Do you have connections with a secondary school or college that has an engineering or science base? Do you work in engineering and would be prepared to help a local school or college by sponsoring their car, or by offering facilities such as metal fabrication, moulding high tech composite structures (carbon fibre etc)?J oining the Greenpower challenge is an excellent way of raising the profile of engineering as a career. If you are interested, or know of a school or college anywhere in the UK that may be interested in receiving information about the Greenpower Challenge send details to jeremy@greenpower.co.uk or fill in the enquiry form at www.greenpower.co.uk/contact/index.php . MARSHALS:- Greenpower wouldn't exist without our excellent team of volunteer officials, marshals and scrutineers. The Greenpower marshals club is for anyone who would like to help out at an event near them. E-mail info@greenpower.co.ukto receive an application form. Marshals will receive the Greenpower newsletter update and other relevant information too. Is "our" date in your diary yet? Aintree, Wednesday 10th September, 8am - 5pm.
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Post by speedsport on May 1, 2008 15:16:11 GMT
Keeping things on the boil, there has been a slight increase in interest in Greenpower in the North West since our appearance at the Careers fair at Aintree. We should get at least one car for active display at the Motor Show at Southport on the Saturday, so lets see if we can gather more interested schools. If you have kids at a school that has an engineering faculty, why not get them to pester their teachers to have a look at Greenpower. It's a proven way of getting Children to work together & actually construct something that they can be proud of. It's also a National Curriculum subject, so no excuses that it's not "proper education"!
There is now Formula 24+ series too. It's an exciting new Greenpower Formula, aimed at those in further education aged 16-21 years. Anyone that falls into this category can enter, including privateers, youth groups, sixth forms, colleges, universities, and company apprenticeship schemes. See the Greenpower website for more info (see previous post for link)
ALSO:- We thought you might like to know that CBBC's Blue Peter have recently built a car in conjunction with Greenpower veterans West Somerset Community College. Two of the presenters raced their car in the first Greenpower Corporate Challenge last Sunday at Goodwood. The Greenpower feature will be shown next Wednesday 7th May at 4.35pm on BBC1, so please do try and watch it.
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Post by speedsport on Aug 21, 2008 12:07:32 GMT
Time's moving on and the IMechE Greenpower Electric Car Races for Schools event at Aintree is now just a few weeks away on Wednesday 10th September. There will be 2 races during the day. The first will be a 90 minute race in the morning for Formula 24+ teams (for 16-21 year olds). There will be 5 teams in this race, one of which is a works Bentley entry! Then in the afternoon, the main race, for Formula 24 cars (for younger teams) will be a 4 hour endurance event. There are 22 teams already entered for this race, so there should be a fantastic atmosphere with 250 - 300 students of all ages on site. Having been to a few Greenpower events already, I am amazed by the way the teams work together, the enthusiasm they show, and just how well behaved they all are. Quite different from the extremes that we are fed daily by the media! Whilst these are all "home made" electric cars designed & constructed by schools, colleges & apprentices and speeds won't be as high as we are used to at Aintree, we should still see 40mph attained by some of the cars - pretty good for vehicles powered by a small battery. Here's the intended timetable:- 0730 Signing on opens 0800 Scrutineering 0900 Practice (up to 90 mins) 10.45-1215 Formula 24+ Race (90 mins) 12.15-12.45 Lunch 12.45-16.45 Formula 24 (main race) North West Regional Heat (4 hours) 17.00 Golf Course opens to public 1730 Prize Giving Greenpower bring virtually everything with them for the event, timekeepers, start crew, commentator, etc. However, we need a minimum of 8 marshals to keep an eye on the track & to look after "our" venue! We will also need to prepare the venue with some bales (not many!) a few cones, maybe the corner boards, & a few banners to advertise LMC and to give the event some atmosphere. Can you help? We already have a few volunteers but could do with a few more. No motorsport experience necessary and there is no need for orange fireproofs! If you can help, or know someone who may be interested in coming along to assist with this charity event, please let me know, or post a message here. The more people we get, the less boring it will be for all of us as we shall be able to move people about whilst the racing is underway. This is event particularly ideal for some of our retired members and their friends. Marshals at most posts will be able to sit in their cars whilst undertaking their duties; particularly advantageous if the weather is typical of this summer! Spectators will be welcome too, there's no admission charge. If you are involved with a local school, spread the message that Greenpower is part of the national curriculum and they too could be involved next year, so why not get them to Aintree on 10th September to see what it's all about! If you would like to bring a competition car along to show the participants what they could be doing as the next step after Greenpower, do let me know. (Probably a static display only) For more info and to keep up to date with Greenpower, have a look at their website:- www.greenpower.co.uk/about/ John Harden
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Post by speedsport on Sept 1, 2008 22:21:53 GMT
We're still a touch short of marshals.
Can you help? Details above.
Please let us know, even if you've already volunteered...
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Post by vanny on Sept 2, 2008 14:14:56 GMT
i'll be there, trying to persuade one of the girls, but i'll see how they fair this weekend first. The university is looking into bringing one of the cars, but i think they are quite interested in visiting otherwise.
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Post by moke on Sept 5, 2008 10:30:29 GMT
Sorry can't help but away at trade show Vanny, don't forget the camera so you can post some video on utube. Would be interesting to see the cars, entrants, race etc. etc. Have a great day
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Post by sprintman on Sept 10, 2008 22:37:57 GMT
What a great day! I had intended just turning up, taking a few snaps, having lunch then going home once the 4 hour race started. I ended up staying to the bitter end!
The racing was interesting is a tad slow (well last week-end we had a Gould through the finish at over 170mph!) but the sheer enthusiasm of the kids was incredible.
Fingers crossed they will be back next year!
;D
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Post by vanny on Sept 12, 2008 15:35:53 GMT
you say it wasnt blistering pace, but Brian the snail was managing nearly 30mph averages in the mornign session, which might not sound that fast, but when you consider that these things are glorified RC cars (with a single motor, battery and controller) and in some cases designed and built by under 16 year olds, i'd say that is some scary fast speed!
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Post by sprintman on Sept 12, 2008 16:08:51 GMT
you say it wasnt blistering pace, but Brian the snail was managing nearly 30mph averages in the mornign session, which might not sound that fast, but when you consider that these things are glorified RC cars (with a single motor, battery and controller) and in some cases designed and built by under 16 year olds, i'd say that is some scary fast speed! In the 4 Hour race the car in Gulf Racing colours (aka Zeberdee but the girls don't like the name) averaged 25.125mph which included four pitstops! Brian's fastest lap of 2 mins 48.284 seconds in the Formula 24+ race in the morning equates to 32.088mph! These are serious machines and the girls from Sandbach High School are an enthusiastic bunch who love what they are doing.
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Post by moke on Sept 12, 2008 21:44:36 GMT
Vanny, any video on Utube yet?
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Post by sprintman on Sept 14, 2008 10:51:45 GMT
Above: the winning entry from Sandbach High School setting the fastest lap of the Formula 24 race. Above: the winning entry in the Formula 24+ race from Chipping Sodbury School. Just a couple of the neat little battery powered racers!
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Post by speedsport on Sept 14, 2008 21:52:02 GMT
Great photos Steve.
What amazed those of us who saw them do it, were the incredibly well orchestrated pit stops by the Sandbach girls. They'd make an excellent F1 pit crew!
Whilst most teams were taking up to 5 mins to effect a driver plus battery change, the "Gulf" Sandbach car was doing the same in around 2 mins. Each member of the pit crew knew exactly where to stand, & what their duties were. The car would stop & the new driver helped the retiring driver out of the car, carefully arranging the full harness belts to be in the right place for quick fastening as she then got in. The retiring driver then helped secure the new driver's belts before moving on to help with the battery change. Meanwhile, the pit crew (a max of 4) had undone the quick release nose, removed the purpose made over-centre clamps securing the batteries, undone the quick release battery connectors, removed the 2 car batteries, replaced them with the 2 spares, clamped them in place, reconnected the terminal connectors, slid the nose back on & secured the catches before sending the car on its way. Fantastic! It took me longer to type this than it took them to perform the pit stop!
The quality of engineering on that car was incredible. The fit and finish was amazing. It deserves to be a winner! Did anyone notice the little aerial for the car to pit radio link? Now that's taking things seriously!!
I do hope they come back next year. I'm hooked!
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Post by sprintman on Sept 15, 2008 10:34:14 GMT
Above is the Sandbach Number 1 car BRIAN in the Formula 24+ race. Above this is BRIAN in the Formula 24 race. In the two photos above note that in the shorter F24+ race where there were no pit stops Brian doesn't have the stubby aerial sticking out of the bodywork, whilst in the F24 four hour race there is the aerial poking through! Basically there is no point in the short race carrying that extra weight round plus having the extra drag the aerial would give!!!
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Post by speedsport on Aug 3, 2009 21:15:50 GMT
Here we go again! Greenpower Electric Car Races for Schools is back at Aintree on Tuesday 22nd September. The message has obviously got around that Aintree is ideal for these super-efficient cars, as there are already 34 teams entered for the event, that's more than double last years entry. We are looking for volunteers once again to help marshal the event. There's nothing strenuous, dangerous or any other "ous" about the duty of marshals at this one, and in fact the day is particularly ideal for our less active (or more senior) helpers as you can sit down in the comfort of your arm chair (if you bring one!) and watch the cars go by. Can you help? We will need you on site by 08.40, and anticipate the event finishing by 17.00. I am assured that there will be a proper lunch break this time, though i dont have any other timings yet. If you can help, please let your chairman know by posting a message here, or contacting him via the Club's contact page www.liverpoolmotorclub.com/about/contact-us/ We already have half a dozen volunteers but could do with a few more. No motorsport experience necessary and there is no need for orange fireproofs! If you can help, or know someone who may be interested in coming along to assist with this charity event, please let me know, or post a message here. The more people we get, the less boring it will be for all of us as we shall be able to move people about whilst the racing is underway. As mentioned above, this is event particularly ideal for some of our retired members and their friends. Marshals at most posts will be able to sit in their cars whilst undertaking their duties; particularly advantageous if the weather is typical of this summer! Spectators will be welcome too, there's no admission charge. To keep up to date with Greenpower, have a look at their website:- www.greenpower.co.uk/about/ More details to follow shortly.
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Post by Ron on Aug 4, 2009 17:25:03 GMT
Put me down and I will make sure that I am there all day this year.
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