This year’s racing events at the National Technology Student Association Conference were exciting as ever, with plenty of intensity and no shortage of drama.
The Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel in Denver, Colorado was the venue for 2009. In the racing events, student-built scale model racecars rocket down an 80-foot track powered by compressed gas escaping from onboard CO2 cartridges. The individual events include:
- F1 in Schools – (middle & high school) A junior version of Formula 1 racing. Student teams design and build cars using CNC technology. They must market their cars by building elaborate displays, acquiring sponsorships, and giving presentations. The final day of racing requires students to launch their own cars on an electronic system featuring countdown starting lights.
- Dragster Design – (middle & high school) The original CO2 racing event, this competition features super fast cars and focuses primarily on speed. All cars are measured against a rigorous set of official specifications and must pass in order to compete in the double elimination tournament bracket where the best 16 cars duke it out for top honors. Students are also scored on the quality and accuracy of detailed technical drawings of their cars.
- Transportation Modeling – (high school) A theme-based competition that focuses on the automotive design process. Students design and build a car to meet the requirement of the specified theme – this year was trucks. Students must also submit a portfolio and usually supply a display to showcase the car for the judges. The cars do race, but the event places less emphasis on speed or race outcome.
Noteworthy for 2009 Racing Events
- Pitsco arranged for a high-speed camera on the finish end of the track to enhance the spectator experience. Enhance it did – especially for the dramatic dead heat race at the finish of the high school dragster design event.
- Seth Aston proved that nice guys don’t always finish last. (full story)
- One car can have the best of both worlds – stunning good looks and championship speed. See full story about high school champ Ahmad Hares.
- Some F1 in Schools displays were quite impressive in their own right – one was crafted from mirror-like diamond plate steel and another handcrafted from fiberglass with touch screen monitors.
