2008 Western Power Model Car Challenge

Release Date: 04 July 2008

The future of car racing is sustainable energy!

The State's most widely contested solar model car race, the Western Power Solar Model Car Challenge is held in Perth and this year includes teams from all over Western Australia who are gearing up for the race of the year.

21 schools have so far registered for the October 2008 event, which is Western Power's seventeenth Solar Model Car Challenge open to secondary schools and colleges.

For the third year running, Western Power is also sponsoring the Solar Model Boat Challenge and is opening entry to WA primary schools for this event.  Fifteen schools have registered so far for the event, with another signaling their interest.

"The Solar Model Car Challenge and Boat Challenge is great way for young people to be innovative about alternative ways to generate energy.  Model solar powered car racing has also proved to be great fun and the race has generated great excitement each year", said Western Power Challenge coordinator, Lorraine Butler.

Through the hands-on process of designing a model solar car and experimenting with materials and construction techniques, students develop a sound understanding of fundamental scientific and engineering concepts.

The students also learned the thrills and spills of grand prix solar model car racing.

"The competition is not just about winning, it's about learning and sharing and enjoying yourself," Ms Butler said.

"Some schools make the Challenge a class exercise and build a number of cars.  They then hold their own competition at school to decide which cars are to be entered, while other schools present a number of teams in the race.

"Western Power hopes that by exposing young people to this kind of challenge they will be encouraged to develop a more environmentally aware approach to energy use, or even pursue a career in this field.

"We get new schools joining the competition every year and many more who are regular entrants.  The strong support by schools for the competition indicates the students are getting a lot out of the Solar Model Car Challenge."


The big race, for the solar cars, will be held on 30 - 31 October in Forrest Place, Perth.  The solar boat race will be held on 23 - 24 Ocober at Western Power's World of Energy in Fremantle.

The winner of the Solar Car Challenge receives $500 and the two winners of the Solar Boat Challenge win $250 each for their schools.  Winners of both solar challenges and are sent to Tasmania to compete in the Australian-International Challenge in October 2008.

Since 1992, 11 winners of the Western Power Solar Model Car Challenge have succeeded on a world stage, dominating the Australian-International Solar Model Car Challenges. Belridge Senior High School, was the line honours winner in the 2004 event while Christ Church Grammar School won its 4th Australian-International Model Solar Car Challenge title by claiming the points prize (for overall performance and knowledge).  Hobart College from Tasmania won the 2005 and 2006 events and Box Hill Senior High school won the event in 2007.

For more race information visit Western Power's website www.westernpower.com.au or phone Lorraine Butler on 9326 6269 or email lorraine.butler@westernpower.com.au.

 

Solar Car school registrations (secondary schools)

Metropolitan Schools 

  • Christ Church Grammar School CLAREMONT
  • Perth Modern School SUBIACO

Western suburbs

  • Prendiville Catholic College OCEAN REEF
  • Morley Senior High School NORANDA
  • Girrawheen Senior High School GIRRAWHEEN
  • Belridge Senior High School BELDON
  • John Septimus Roe Anglican
  • Community School MIRRABOOKA

Eastern suburbs

  • Guildford Grammar School GUILDFORD
  • John Calvin Christian College ARMADALE
  • Kelmscott Senior High School KELMSCOTT
  • Mazenod College LESMURDIE

Southern schools

  • Armadale Christian College BEDFORDALE
  • Aquinas College MANNING
  • Kolbe Catholic College ROCKINGHAM
  • Winthrop Baptist College WINTHROP
  • Lynwood Senior High School PARKWOOD
  • Maranatha Christian College ROCKINGHAM
  • Thornlie Senior High School THORNLIE
  • Leeming Senior High School LEEMING

Regional Schools

  • Albany Senior High School ALBANY
  • John Calvin School ALBANY

Solar Boat school registrations

Metropolitan schools 

  • Bateman Primary school
  • Millen Primary School
  • Sorrento Primary School
  • St Jerome’s primary school
  • West Beechborough Primary School
  • North Cottesloe Primary School
  • Boyare primary school (Expressed interest, not registered)
  • Goosebury Hill Primary school

Regional schools

  • Three Springs Primary School THREE SPRINGS
  • Yakamia Primary School ALBANY
  • Greenfields Primary School NEAR MANDURAH
  • St Joseph’s Primary School NORTHAM
  • South Newman Primary School NEWMAN
  • Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School BUNBURY
  • Rockingham Beach PS ROCKINGHAM
  • South Halls Head PS HALLS HEAD

Contact us

If you have any questions regarding this media release please email us: media@westernpower.com.au