Kearsney College feels the need for speed
Kearsney College pupils had fun while at the same time learning some valuable educational skills.
There was lots of speed, smoke and excitement at Kearsney College as teams raced their model rocket cars after an inspiring workshop and demo by UK-based Bloodhound Super-Sonic Car (SSC) Project education ambassador, Chris Maxwell.
The SSC Project is currently developing a jet and rocket-powered car which will attempt to break the world land speed record in the Northern Cape between September and November this year. The record was set in 1997 at 1 228km/h. They will attempt to break the record with a jet and rocket-powered car, which is being built to travel at 1 690km/h.
Maxwell explained the project to the learners, after which five four-man teams from Kearsney built their own mini-rockets which raced to find the fastest vehicle.
The winning Team Endeavour, comprising Grade 11 learners Cuan Crocker, Gianluca Pauselli, Brendan Stead and Dan van Zyl, blasted their way to victory by achieving a top speed of 171km/h.
Linked in with Kearsney’s Maths and Science Excellence programme, the competition was a good way to stimulating interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The official Guinness World Record for a model rocket car is around 400km/h.
![Kearsney College race their homestyled vehicles [1600x1200]](https://www.citizen.co.za/highway-mail/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/05/Kearsney-College-race-their-homestyled-vehicles-1600x1200.jpg)
