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Over 50 budding engineers from schools across the UK gathered at the RAF Museum, Cosford on Sunday 26th June to compete for the title Scalextric4Schools Champions 2011.
Surrounded by some of the most iconic aircraft from the last century, teams presented their designs to a panel of judges before fine tuning their cars and racing on a landscaped Scalextric track.
Scalextric4Schools is a partnership between Hornby Hobbies, the parent company of the Scalextric brand, Root Solutions, the PTC reseller responsible for Hornby, and PTC, a global company specialising in engineering design software. The challenge aims to inspire students to consider Science and Engineering related subjects for Higher Education and as a career.
For many months, children aged 11 and 18, have been designing, manufacturing, testing and refining their slot cars. The UK finals provide the perfect opportunity for teams to pit their cars against each other for the top spot on the podium. Cars were tested to the limit and raced against the clock around a fully landscaped circuit provided by Hornby. Teams also presented to a panel of judges describing how they designed, manufactured, developed and tuned their cars for maximum performance.
The judges, Roger French from Root Solutions, Tom Malloy from Hornby, Paul Barraclough from Boxford and Squadron Leader Jane Miller from RAF Cosford, were extremely impressed with the standard of design and technical innovation shown by the teams. Scores from race times and fastest laps combined with assessments by the judges of team‟s presentations and portfolios decided the UK champions.
Judges commented on the significant improvements they have seen in the quality of design thinking since the first challenge three years ago. Tom Malloy from Hornby, who designs the real Scalextric cars, said that “teams had clearly drawn ideas from high performance road and race cars.” Judge and Squadron Leader, Jane Miller, commented, “We were very impressed with the technical knowledge the students demonstrated and the enthusiasm they showed.” Roger French from Root Solutions highlighted the wide range of manufacturing processes used by teams and commented on “the clever use of PTC‟s Creo Parametric 3D design software to create aerodynamic bodies and chassis to accommodate the motors, gears and pick-up systems into fast model racing cars.”
Many of the teams secured sponsorship, money and support from local firms.
Bideford School were sponsored by Jack Barclay, the London Bentley dealer who loaned the team a full size convertible liveried for the competition!
Team Cobra from Our Lady Queen of Peace School, Lancashire were crowned overall winner with Roger French, from sponsor Root Solutions, presenting them with the trophy and Adrian Norman from Scalextric presenting the boys with a Scalextric set and individual Scalextric cars.
Team Cobra were supported by their teacher Mark Seddon and sponsored by Turtle Wax.
The award for Best Engineered Car went to Team Leek & Potato Pie, from Leek High School, Staffordshire who were chosen by judges because of the sophistication of the design, clever use of 3D CAD and outsourced rapid manufacturing of their car components.
First runner-up was Roary the Scout Mobile from Boreaton Scout Troup in Shropshire.
At the end of racing while the judges were finalising their scores the scouts entertained competitors and the public at the museum with a demonstration of marching and drumming.
Second runner-up was Team Jack Barclay Racing from Bideford College, Devon.
New for 2011 was the land speed record category run in partnership with Bloodhound SSC.
Most of the teams tried their cars on the 40 metre straight track with Chris Richard's car, Sharp Edges, achieving a scale speed of over 612 mph.
Chris is a year 13 student from Arthur Terry School, Sutton Coldfield and will be studying engineering at Bristol University from the autumn.
Hornby‟s Adrian Norman presented winning teams with Scalextric Racing sets and all students taking part received individually boxed Scalextric cars from Hornby.
Scalextric4Schools is a partnership between Hornby and PTC with help and sponsorship coming from PTC software reseller Root Solutions, Boxford Ltd, the leading manufacturer and supplier of CAD/CAM systems and CNC equipment to education and CR Clarke, who specialise in the design and manufacture of equipment for thermoforming, fabrication and recycling of thermoplastic materials.
Schools without their own CNC equipment can get their designs manufactured at one of four schools who support the challenge.
The PTC Scalextric4Schools competition is based on a concept introduced by Edgecliff School in Staffordshire. PTC has built on this, developing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum for the challenge showing students how to design, make and race their own Scalextric racing cars. To help schools update their curriculum, PTC is providing their industry standard 3D parametric design software, Creo Parametric free of charge, including home use by students. Schools can find out more at www.ptcschools.com and teachers can access training and support through www.digitaldandt.org
Hornby supply the standard parts at cost price for the cars including: motors, gears, pick-ups, wheels, tyres and axles. A complete car costs less than £2! Schools can also purchase a track for testing. Information, downloads and links for schools to purchase parts and track are available on: www.scalextric4schools.org
