GREY skies deprived solar powered boats and cars of a ready supply of energy at the 2006 Victorian Model Solar Vehicle Challenge on Sunday but the competition at Scienceworks was declared a success.
More than 30 primary and secondary school teams gathered at Scienceworks for the two-day event, which saw solar powered model cars and boats racing off for the State title.
High-tech materials like carbon fibre, aluminium alloys and vacuum-formed plastics featured on many vehicles, while others were made of old-fashioned balsa wood.
The model car racing competition began in Victoria in 1990 and model solar boat races were added to the competition in 1994 as an alternative for younger competitors.
The winners in the primary school and junior secondary school division earned a spot in the national titles, to be held in Sydney on 1 and 2 December.
