F1 Racing

This subject is part of a worldwide push, initiated in the UK, called the Schools Innovation Design Challenge. The aim is to stimulate and promote student interest in engineering.

Students are given the challenge of designing, marketing, manufacturing and racing model F1 cars, using state of the art computer software to help them. Part of the designing process requires the students to conduct aerodynamic Fluid Dynamic and Structural Finite Element Analysis testing using a range of additional software. The vehicles are manufactured here at Brighton Secondary School using a Computer Numerically Controlled machine and Balsa wood blocks. The vehicles are powered by a CO2 ‘soda stream’ cylinder. We are one of only five schools in South Australia who have the technology.

There is a competition at state, national and international levels and we have been lucky enough to represent the state at junior level (Yr 9) in the past two years, with last years group, team Velocity, designing and constructing the fastest car in Australia (1.08 seconds from a standing start over 20metres).