Formula One (F1) racing cars, race tracks and animated spectators; it was the ultimate motor racing experience at the ScienCentre in Gateway this past Saturday (June 8, 2013) where the Top Gear Festival’s Legacy Initiative mock race took place.

However, these were not average F1 racing cars, only miniature versions created by pupils from various Durban high schools as part of the F1 in Schools Technology Challenge.

The challenge is an exciting initiative geared towards promoting the study of Maths, Science, Engineering and Technology in high schools. There are seven participating high schools namely, Open Air School, Umlazi Comtech High School, Savananda Technical School, George Campbell Technical School, Phoenix Technical School, Clifton College and Glenwood Boys High School.

Each of the schools selected a team of four to six pupils studying Maths and Science between grades 10 and 12. The teams were tasked with designing, analysing and manufacturing an F1 car of the future using CAD (Computer-aided design) software. The miniature creations would be made out of balsa wood and powered by CO2 gas canisters. Lecturers together with a few students from the DUT Industrial Engineering Department dedicated their time to teach and familiarise the pupils with the design software.

“The role of our students was to teach (the teams) how to use CAD (Computer-aided design) in designing their race cars, CAM (Computer-aided manufacturing) in the manufacturing of work pieces and actual manufacturing of the cars on the CNC Milling Machine,” said Ranil Singh, Senior Lecturer in the Industrial Engineering Department at DUT.

Top Gear Festival Legacy Initiative Project Manager Anna Sacks said the purpose of Saturday’s race was for the teams who have prototypes ready to test their cars. But over and above, this was a day to have fun. Even amid the anxiety, pupils could not contain their excitement as they got to see their creations racing swiftly across the tracks. While some teams got an indication that they are on the right track with their designs, some realised their cars still require attention.

Phoenix Technical School’s team Alphega (which is the words alpha and omega combined) took centre stage as the group with the fastest car. The team members said although the results of the mock race were pleasing, they would still spend time fine-tuning their design for the ultimate race set to take place on Thursday next week (June 20, 2013) at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Umlazi Comtech’s team Umlazi Comtech Strivers said their performance in the race was a motivation for them to perfect their design. The team said it is wary of all the elements of the challenge, adding that it intends to pay attention to these areas also.

The initiative will be showcased to the public during the Top Gear Festival (15-16 June 2013) at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, with the main race set to be held next week.

Sacks said there will be incentives for every participating team and a prize for the fastest car. The criteria for the grand prize would however be holistic, looking at, among other factors, team work, good marketing strategy, design and budget. Sacks kept her lips sealed about the grand prize, incentives or who the judging panel would be but confirmed that everything will be done fairly.

– Naledi Hlefane

Caption: Team Alphega (of Phoenix Technical School) shone as the group with the fastest car during Top Gear Festival’s Legacy Initiative mock race at the ScienCentre in Gateway on Saturday (8 June 2013).