The North West heats of the IMechE Greenpower Electric Car Races for Schools event was held at Aintree on Wednesday 10th September 2008.
There were 2 races during the day. The first was a 90 minute race in the morning for Formula 24+ teams (for 16-21 year olds). 5 teams took part in this race, one of which was a works Bentley entry!
Then in the afternoon, the main race, for Formula 24 cars (for younger teams, aged 11 to 17) was a 4 hour endurance event. Over 15 teams entered for this race, and there was a fantastic atmosphere with 250 - 300 students of all ages on site.
Please visit the Greenpower section of the Club Forum for visitors comments about the event, which we hope will be back at Aintree in 2009.
We originally published the following information about the 2008 races, and it is retained here for information:-
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:-
07.30 Signing on opens
08.00 Scrutineering
09.00 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
17.30 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 send a message to John Harden through the contact page on this site.
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!
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:-
http://www.greenpower.co.uk/about/
John Harden
Recent Comments