A team of Year 6 pupils from Gresham’s Prep School have enjoyed great success at this year’s Greenpower Goblin Go Kart Race at Scottow Enterprise Park. The team had a very successful day and won trophies in the following categories: the Drag Race, the Slalom Race and the Overall Event 2023.The event is run by Greenpower Education Trust, a UK based charity which gets young people enthusiastic about science and engineering by challenging them to design, build and race an electric car.
Gresham’s Prep School entered the race for the second year running. Their team consisted of William R and Hannah C as the two designated drivers, a decision that was made after they qualified as the fastest boy and girl in the year group. The drivers were backed up by a four-pupil strong “pit crew” comprised of Edward B, Tilly C, Ignacio H and Paddy C. Finally, Eric F and Hollie S were assigned the task of managing the team.
The team were very kindly sponsored by Warren Services, a local engineering company. Gresham’s Year 6 pupils and Warren Services worked closely all term to produce bodywork panels to give the kart a new updated look.
Throughout the day, the team took park in “drag” and “slalom” races before the popular final sprint races took place at the end of the day. The slalom races required the drivers to weave in and out of equally spaced cones and stop in a 3m-by-3m coned square in the fastest time. The drag was an out and out speed race where each driver is required to race to the end of the track at top speed before braking hard and stopping before the safety barrier.
Gresham’s performed admirably in the drag and slalom races and William R was selected to drive for the final race, “The Sprint”. Three karts per round raced each other on an oval track to determine the fastest final kart. Gresham’s were drawn in the outside lane for this event but William drove brilliantly to give his team a real chance of progressing. Unfortunately, a pesky safety cone became wedged in the driver’s side wheel during the race ending Gresham’s hopes of winning the event. It was, however, still a very exciting final spectacle and all of the school teams cheered and watched each race to the end in the true spirit of sportsmanship.
The pupils showed great commitment, teamwork, positivity, sportsmanship, and behaviour, all of which were exemplary, and they all represented the school in the best possible manner. Congratulations to all involved!
Categories: Gresham's School
