Model Solar Car Challenge

Model Solar Car Challenge
Kindly sponsored by Shell Refining Clyde

—1st Place across the Nation—
24 October 1999
Read about the preparation for the big race here.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported our win on 3/11/99.
You may read the print version here.

After achieving a creditable second place in the State Championships - and therefore a place in the Nationals - Mr Dabbs and his Model Solar Car team made their way to Adelaide on the weekend of 23-4th of October.

Pictured at left is a sample of the lineup, sitting on the specially constructed 100m, two-lane figure-eight track.

Dubbo and Wellington Christian Schools joined Parramatta High School in the attempt to bring the honour back to NSW. The trophy has lived in WA for at least six years.

There were eight groups of four cars in a round robin championship.
A total of thirty-two teams doing their best to take possession of the winner's trophies.

All the states were represented, as well as two entries each from Argentina and Vietnam - making this a truly international contest.

At right are the four team members from 9DT6 who built and ran the fastest model solar car in Australia.
Congratulations again to:

Mirza
Shannon
Harshul
Edward

who, along with their teacher Mr Dabbs, put months of effort and extra time into building and refining "Solardog", the award-winning car.

This win was no fluke.

Being a round-robin contest, the team had to race five times in order to take out the championship.

They won every race.

At left are the two perpetual trophies (which we are planning to win again next year), the trophy for 1999, and the winning car.

Thank you again to our sponsor Shell Refining Clyde, without whom we would not have been able to purchase materials and replace the broken solar panel!

At this point it would be timely to note some firsts that this win represents.
To the best of our knowledge, we are the:

first school from NSW, and the
first state (or government) school to win the National Championship.

When one considers the nature of some of the competition, and the resources at their disposal, it can be truly appreciated just what a very tough race this was, and what a great accomplishment it was for Parramatta High.

This win is a well-deserved testament to the ingenuity, dedication and hard work of a small, select team under the guidance of a particularly talented leader.

Again-very well done.

Read about the preparations for this race.
Return to TAS faculty page.