The National Competition Information

***This year the event will be held 17th September***

Post your best 6 Dragsters to The Annual National Innovative Design and Racing Challenge

All are welcome to attend.

Venue: HAWERA
Date: September 2011
Start Time: 10am

All are welcome to attend

Contact me for more details

The New Zealand CO2 Dragster National Competition Rules and Specifications:

Contest Purpose

The CO2 Dragster Competition is designed and run to display and race the best entries from schools in a competition for National Honours.

Prizes will be awarded in the following way:

   CATEGORY  DESCRIPTION  DIVISION (Yrs)
 1  SPEED  Combined total of trialling and head to head racing results  7 and 8
 2  SPEED  Combined total of trialling and head to head racing results  9 plus
 3  SHOW AND SHINE  Independently judged in four sections  7 and 8
 4  SHOW AND SHINE  Independently judged in four sections  9 plus
 5  CHAMPION CAR  Most points accumulated (max. 100)  7 and 8
 6  CHAMPION CAR  Most points accumulated (max. 100)  9 plus
 7  NZ SPEED RECORD  Any car from Div A in any race on the day  7 and 8
 8  NZ SPEED RECORD  Any car from Div B in any race on the day  9 plus
 9  EXCELLENCE  Certificates for the best sixteen cars  7 and 8
 10  EXCELLENCE  Certificates for the best sixteen cars
 9 plus
 11  SPEED  Outlaw Class 1st, 2nd, and 3rd only
 From any Div

 

Eligibility for Entry

Entry is limited to a total of six (6) in each division per school.
Entries must meet all specifications related to sizes as per the Specification Sheet.
International Competition
The fastest sixteen cars each year will represent New Zealand in the Trans Tasman CO2 Dragster Ashes.
The Event will be staged in alternate years in Hawera NZ(even years) and Maryborough QLD (odd years.)
Only cars from the Division A or B will be chosen.
Time Limitation
Vehicle entries must be available at the race venue at the date and time specified for the timed run offs.

Divisions

For the 2008 Event the Divisions are as follows:
DIV A: STUDENTS IN YEAR 7 OR 8 CLASSES
DIV B: STUDENTS IN YEARS 9, 10, 11, OR 12 CLASSES
DIV C: TEACHERS FROM ANY SCHOOL
DIV D: OUTLAW CLASS (SPEED ONLY)
DIV E: FUNKY CAR CLASS (DESIGN CHARACTER / HUMOUR)
DIV G: JUNIOR STUDENTS UP TO AND INCLUDING YEAR 6.

Competition Points:

Each contestant will accumulate points and these will be added to decide placings.
The points are distributed as follows:

(A) Shine and Show 40 points
a. shape and appearance 10 points
b. body/paint finish and embellishment 10 points
c. construction quality 10 points
d. portfolio of concept sketches (see explanation below) 10 points

(B) Speed Time Trial 30 points
Points will be awarded to all cars based on their speed in
relation to the fastest car in their division. The fastest
car will score maximum points (30.)

(C) Single Elimination Drag Racing 30 points
The best 32 cars in each division will race in single elimination head to head competition.
Each round a car survives will score it 5 points towards the competition total. In the event of a drawn time the cars will race again until one wins.
Specific Regulations
A contestant may enter only one dragster that has been self designed and constructed during the
current school year.
All entries must be free from need for repair and/or maintenance at the time of registration.
No repairs or maintenance to entries will be allowed after entries have been received.
Any dragster damaged during the race will be assessed by the contest coordinator to determine whether the car is safe and still within the specifications.
Judging the Show and Shine

All contest entries will be scrutinized according to the dragster Specification Sheet.
Contestants will be ranked in order of final scores determined by the judging panel.
The judges will consult with each other to determine the winner in the event of a tied score.
Four judges will be used, each judging a specific part of the Show and Shine criteria.
All judges' ratings will remain confidential.
Starting Specifications
Dragsters must be proven safe to race at national level by having been run at school on a standard track.
No car is to have its first race at the National Competition.
Dragsters shall have a one piece, all wooden body construction.
Parts such as fenders, canopies, exhausts or airfoils may be glued or attached to or enclosed within the dragsters.
Bearings and lubricants may be used in construction.
All dragsters must meet the official specifications. (See Specifications Page)
All dragsters must have four wheels (2 Front, 2 Rear)
Wheels must be made entirely from plastic.
Races will be over 20 metres unless deemed otherwise by the race coordinator.

Drawings (Design and Graphics)

Since Graphics and Design is an integral part of the NZ Technology Curriculum, the inclusion of 2D work is part of the National Competition. As educators, we have a responsibility to show thinking processes in the development of technological ideas. Entrants do not have to provide a portfolio but must realise that they will be disadvantaged in certain sections of the competition. For instance, without a portfolio a contestant will only be able to score no more than 90% in the Champion Car category.
The portfolio should not be a huge document or an onerous task for the student. It simply shows the thinking processes of the student as (s)he developed ideas for making a car within the specifications provided.
It may include such items as:

  • initial thumbnail sketches,
  • concept drawings
  • annotated sketches - good points/bad points
  • working drawings
  • short explanations of relevant topics such as aerodynamics, laws of motion, friction,
  • results of testing regimes such as ramp testing, wheel alignment testing, wind tunnel testing, axle material testing,

weight to speed testing,

  • how aspects of testing affected the choice of final design,
  • explanation of research focus such as trip to the local car yard,
  • internet knowledge,
  • finding out about F1 and Drag Racing
  • CAD design

Procedure

Dragsters are to be sent to the CO2 Competition Adjudicator by 17th September 2008
We will pay for postage to return the dragsters to you.

Dragsters to be posted or delivered to:
CO2 Dragster National Competition
c/- Bruce McKenzie
2 McCarthy Street
HAWERA.