December 2009

Bulletin November 2009

Bulletin October 2009

The response has again been overwhelming filling all groups in under two weeks.

The Autumn Sprint Results

The Autumn Sprint Awards

Bulletin August/September 2009

September 2009 Finals etc.

Zebedee – Sandbach High School’s car came 3rd in 2009 (Picture courtesy of Steve Wilkinson)  

They’re coming back!  The North West heats of the IMechE Greenpower Electric Car Races for Schools are returning to Aintree on Thursday 16th September 2010.

In 2009,  25 teams took part in the event. Word certainly got around that Aintree is a superb venue for these high-tech super efficient electric cars, so this wasn’t an event to miss.    For the official race report, click : http://www.greenpower.co.uk/racing/results_detail.php?type=2009_NORTHWESTREGIONALHEAT_701527 

After morning open practice, the first race was a 90 minute session for Formula 24+ teams (for 16-21 year olds). 4 teams took part in this race in 2009, then in the afternoon, the main race was for Formula 24 cars (for younger teams, aged 11 to 17) as a 4 hour endurance event. Over 24 teams entered for this race, and there was a fantastic atmosphere with 250 – 300 students of all ages on site.

We expect the 2010 event to be similar to 2009’s with more teams than ever taking part. Pit stops & driver changes should be really exciting with so many teams entered too!

Please visit the Greenpower section of the Club Forum for visitors comments about the 2009 event as we get them. If you would like to help at this charity event (and we are always short of helpers),  please contact John Harden (LMC Chairman) via http://www.liverpoolmotorclub.com/about/contact-us/. This event is particularly ideal for some of our less energetic &/or 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!

Having been to a few Greenpower events now, I am still blown away 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 still see 40mph attained by some of the cars – pretty good for vehicles powered by a couple of 12v car batteries.

Here’s the usual timetable:-
07.30 Signing on opens
08.00 Scrutineering followed by marshals briefing at 08.45
09.00 Practice (up to 90 mins)
10.30-1200 Formula 24+ Race (90 mins)
12.00-12.25 Lunch
12.30-16.30 Formula 24 (main race) North West Regional Heat (4 hours)
17.00 Prize Giving
17.00 Golf Course opens to public

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 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!

If you know of a school that isn’t already involved, Greenpower is part of the national curriculum and they too could be involved next year, so why not get them to Aintree on 22nd 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. (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

Based on the provisions laid down by the MSA technical regulations for 2010, the “Northern Speed Classes” will assist competitors enter their car into the correct class, and will make much clearer what is allowed in the Road-Going Series classes, no matter which club is running a particular event.

Once the proposed classes are finally agreed by the various clubs and ratified by the MSA, it is hoped that the “Northern Speed Classes” will be published in September or October 2009 in time for competitors considering vehicle preparation or changes for the 2010 season.  We recommend that all speed competitors consider these regulations carefully before purchasing or changing cars, and we hope that they will be adopted by a much wider range of organising clubs in due course.