Pupils race ahead in speed machine design
Thursday, 21st March 2002.
Pupils at Samuel Ward Upper School in Haverhill who are building a "gravity racer" have enlisted the help of professionals. The youngsters have almost completed the design of the racer, based on an Astra rally car but without an engine, which is the official Vauxhall entry at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer.
The final design has risen from teacher David Ackroy's original Mark 1 car.
The school enlisted the support of professional designers to ensure the safety of its driver at speeds of up to 70mph. Italian racing driver Dillon Battistini came along to meet the team, with the weight and structure of the vehicle being designed around him for maximum efficiency.
A team of 15 companies are helping pupils by providing materials, expertise and sponsorship. The models build by pupils have been scrutinised by engineers.
Paterson's Steel Service of Hollands Road, Haverhill, will construct the frame that forms the basis of the vehicle. It will be completed by Taylor's Foundry Motorsport, also of Hollands Road. The racer will the face a series of scrutiny, safety checks and trial runs, starting on April 24, before it is accepted for Goodwood.
CAPTION: Finishing touches ... from left, Duncan O'Leary, design engineer from Anvil Innovations, pupil Michael Renton, 15, Gerry Raylor and Dave Ketteridge from Taylor's Foundry Motorsport, driver Dillion Battistini, pupils James Adkin, 15, and Sabrian Wilkie, 14, and David Crawford, design engineer from Anvil Innovations
The final design has risen from teacher David Ackroy's original Mark 1 car.
The school enlisted the support of professional designers to ensure the safety of its driver at speeds of up to 70mph. Italian racing driver Dillon Battistini came along to meet the team, with the weight and structure of the vehicle being designed around him for maximum efficiency.
A team of 15 companies are helping pupils by providing materials, expertise and sponsorship. The models build by pupils have been scrutinised by engineers.
Paterson's Steel Service of Hollands Road, Haverhill, will construct the frame that forms the basis of the vehicle. It will be completed by Taylor's Foundry Motorsport, also of Hollands Road. The racer will the face a series of scrutiny, safety checks and trial runs, starting on April 24, before it is accepted for Goodwood.
CAPTION: Finishing touches ... from left, Duncan O'Leary, design engineer from Anvil Innovations, pupil Michael Renton, 15, Gerry Raylor and Dave Ketteridge from Taylor's Foundry Motorsport, driver Dillion Battistini, pupils James Adkin, 15, and Sabrian Wilkie, 14, and David Crawford, design engineer from Anvil Innovations
Web Link: http://www.samuelward.suffolk.sch.uk
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