By XAVIER SMERDON
IT IS only a few inches long, is made from balsa wood, weighs less than a mobile phone and resembles a child’s toy, but a small car may be one group of student’s ticket to the USA.
Five Year 10 students from Galvin Park Secondary College took part in the Victorian finals of the F1 In Schools Challenge.
The competition consists of teams creating their own small car that can be powered by a punctured CO2 cartridge.
The team that can get their car to the end of a 25 metre track first is crowned the winner.
The teams were also required to organise their own marketing, merchandise and present themselves as a professional business.
Grace McLaren, Justin Mac, Jake Megee, Zak King and David Velevski made up the Galvin Park team, which they named Demiurge Dragons.
Demiurge Dragons were chosen as a wildcard entry to go through to the national finals next year.
If they perform at their best at the nationals they could qualify to go to the USA for the world championships.
Director of Science at the school, Michael Germano, said he could not be more proud of the students.
“They started three months later than all the other teams because of all the trouble we had here but I said I didn’t want them making excuses,” Mr Germano said.
“I’ve got belief in them. I was watching them and they had this doubt in them and I kept on saying ‘why are you doubting yourselves?’
“I’m so proud because they’ve had so many obstacles to face and we’re finally there now.”
Justin Mac, who created the car the team used, said he would continue to make improvements in the lead-up to the national competition.
The team was sponsored by Dow, which donated $40,000 to the school’s science department.
