College EV competing
Katikati College will again compete at Evolocity 2018, the Waikato Regional electric vehicle (EV) racing finals this Saturday.
Last year’s team of Justin Coxhead, Brecon Cameron, Paul van Loon and Flynn Sunderland will race their cart with the inclusion of Greg Menhinick working the electronics.
The Year 12 students have refined their cart’s design this year with a shorter wheel base, more conventional sitting position, lighter frame and simple transmission to the rear wheel.
The team is excited about the new Gynkhana category where teams are timed through a course while moving coloured battens from one bucket to another of the same colour.
This will require good driving skill and a strategic approach, said teacher Hamish Carr. The usual round of competitions are still there — speed, braking, rolling resistance, economy run (which the boys won last year).
This year the electronics challenge is to display, record and transmit data about the performance of the cart.
The team thanks Katikati Auto Electrical, Katikati Mowers and Cycles, Hammer Hardware, Orchard House Cafe and Lions of Katikati for their support, and Bruce Jonson for his technical expertise.
Hamish said they look forward to parading the racing cart at the annual Lions Santa Parade in December.