2003 RACV Energy Challenge

AURORA 101 PACES A REAL ENERGY CHALLENGE
RACV Energy Challenge, Maryborough

22-23 November 2003

The Aurora Vehicle Association continued its long association with the exciting 24 hour race for Human Powered Vehicles [HPVs] held annually at Maryborough in country Victoria and backed by the RACV.

Team members Dennis Thoroughgood, Caroline Murphy, Jack McArthur, Damien McArthur, Chris Henderson, Daniel Henderson and Shane Good took the Aurora 101 solar car to Maryborough on Saturday 22 November in particular to encourage the 22 hybrid category entrants. Damien, a veteran driver of the Suzuka Formula 1 track in Japan [but yet to reach the age for a driver's licence] demonstrated the solar car just before the start of the hybrid race at 1.00 PM.

There was tremendous general interest in the solar car and this is inspiring the Aurora group to consider how to prototype a low cost soar car to be of interest to the huge number of schools that enter this RACV Energy Challenge.

The Full Throttle program at Maryborough Regional College
The Full Throttle program at Maryborough Regional College

 

Martin Mark and Alicia Chadwick did a good job of organisation for the Maryborough district. About 15,000 visitors attended the event with over 5,000 being provided facilities for camping at this 24 hour race.

About 280 schools participated in the various event and race categories. Wow! The real action was in the HPVs. Eighty five secondary schools and 56 primary schools were entered; another 22 were in the hybrid class and 17 in the triathlon class.

Victorian State Minister for Energy, Industries and Resources, Theo Theophanous presided as did the chiefs of the RACV, Colin Jordan and David Bullard.

The 06 entry from The Peninsula School
The 06 entry from The Peninsula School

 

The weather was cold and wet, in stark contrast to the extreme heat usually encountered in Maryborough this time of year. This required real energy from the contestants who were probably happier pedalling than being cold in the wet pit area.

Berwick Secondary College won the High School category. This was a good omen for the new event planned in Berwick in June 2004. The Primary School category saw a tough fight between the Aberfoyle Hub school from South Australia and the St Therese school from Bendigo. The latter won overall.

One of the many hybrid category entries
One of the many hybrid category entries

 

Aurora would like to thank the organisers and John Stafford for allowing Aurora to join in this event.