CO2 Dragster Racing and a National Champion

Year 10 entered this competition as a part of their Technology course. They were required to design and make a model dragster, to international specifications, which was to be propelled by CO2 gas canisters. They competed against each other on a 20 metre track in the school gym to find the fastest.  Jack Coote was the fastest with a time of 1 second exactly.

The top eight were sent to Hawera for the NZ Nationals competing against 140 other cars from schools all over New Zealand in the year 9 to year 13 class.

In an amazing success for the college, Jack Coote’s car was awarded the Champion Car with the most points from his design drawings and racing.

His car was the quickest over the track and now holds the New Zealand speed record for fastest time ever recorded by a High School student.  0.966 of a second or 74.53kmph (46.31mph). A phenomenal achievement.

As a result of their fantastic design and construction Jack and Matt Martin’s cars were were chosen to represent New Zealand in a 16 car team to challenge the best in Australia,

So the cars traveled across the Tasman (unfortunately without their creators) to compete against the best of that the Australians could muster. Jack won his race but it still wasn't enough to see NZ take the trophy as we lost the racing 9 to 7 in favour of the Australian's .

All the students involved made a huge effort and the young designsers are looking forward to next years competition with great anticipation.

An amazing success story that all at the college can be really proud of.

Click this link or the photos above to see all the action of the Year 10 CO2 Dragster slideshow.