King’s (Canterbury) & IET partner up for the Super-Speedy Car Challenge 2016

06 May 2016

Design and Technology teacher, Mr Graham Swindley, has been developing the famous King’s Week Super-Speedy Car Challenge over the last few years by expanding the project into other local schools.

Thirty kits are this year being supplied to local schools by The King’s School under a grant from the IET/IMechE, under the Engineering education grant scheme. This opens the opportunity to many more Year 9 pupils to take part in the Super-Speedy Car Races during King’s Week. The students must be involved from the whole design and testing process before racing their finished product on the early rounds and finals on Monday 4th July 2016 at Birley’s playing field.

Mr Norman Dean, the Director of Innovations at Thamesview School in Gravesend, recently collected his kits. Participating in the event over the last few years has helped to raise the profile of Design and Engineering in his school. A larger number of pupils are taking the subject at Thamesview as a GCSE and A Level option with access to a wider selection of machinery and programmes becoming more available.

Inspired by the Bloodhound Supersonic Car, which aims to win the world land speed record for Britain at over 1000mph, King’s pupils will race their Super-Speedy Cards against all-comers from schools across Kent. The cars are powered by Electric Ducted Fans and Li-Ion batteries which can reach speeds of over 60mph. The cars have to survive a sudden stop as they run into sponges fixed to the guide cord and be ready to race again in three minutes.

Mr Swindley is the event organiser and brings energy, enthusiasm and his expertise to the fantastic challenge. 2016 is set to be one of the most exciting Super-Speedy Car Challenges yet seen. Any school wanting to take part should contact Mr Swindley (gjs@kings-school.co.uk) as soon as possible.

Make sure you’re there!

Monday 4th July
Birley’s Sports Ground

1.30pm Early Rounds
3pm Finals
4pm Addresses & Awards