Human Powered Vehicle (HPV)

RACV Energy Breakthrough Challenge, Maryborough

https://www.racveb.com/

The HPV (Human Powered Vehicle) program has been running at Diamond Creek for the past 12 years. Over this time w have experienced some terrific success on the track. More importantly our success is measured by the number of students who participate in the program and the community involvement which is generated. Diamond Creek Primary contributes to the more than 60,000 visitors who attend the event in Maryborough, and it has become somewhat of a tradition that we take students to the event each year.

It is an exciting program designed to provide opportunities for students, teachers, parents and the local community. We all work together to design and construct a vehicle, a machine or innovation in technology that will represent an energy breakthrough.

Each year a team of 12 students is selected to take part in the event. Students work towards improving their fitness and endurance over the six months leading up to the race. They complete an exercise program, participate in endurance days and take part in other fitness-related events such as the school cross country. The team is made up of 8 drivers and 4 pit crew who work together to try and complete the long race which takes place over 3 days in Maryborough.

This is a program requiring a high fitness level, commitment and endurance. The race lasts for 14 hours. The students race around the track against up to 75 other schools and really step up and represent the school and local community to a very high standard. In addition to the race students are required to research various aspects and go through a scrutineering session, which focuses on the detail in the vehicle development, and performance and they develop a presentation, which covers all aspects of the event, including the historical components. The team performs this in front of three independent judges. They need to demonstrate to the judges their knowledge of the vehicle, the theory behind the way it has been built and the relevance to our environmental world.

This is a very rewarding program for students, teachers, parents and the community.

Please feel free to come and see our vehicle and learn more about the program. The HPV team would be more than happy to share with you this exciting experience and discuss future plans for our HPV team the “SPIRIT OF DIAMOND CREEK!”