Hoërskool Florida recently hosted the UJ Technolab CO2 Dragster Challenge.
The event is an initiative of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) to create interest in engineering.
Teams are required to build miniature drag cars from wood and must weigh 75 grams.
The cars are propelled by a carbon dioxide canister, which is pierced to start the release of the gas.
The UJ Technolab manager Willie Viljoen said the lab is where they incubate future engineering students for the university.
“We do workshops for schools where we teach different technical topics and then build an application of the specific topic discussed, for example using Lego. We also arrange field trips and take the pupils to car assembly plants. This is to get the pupils interested in engineering as we are looking for talented pupils from schools in the area so we can groom them. By the time they start their first year at university, they are already a step ahead,” he said.
The competition was open to everyone and divided into two categories of high school and open category where father-and-child teams or more advanced university pupils entered.
In the High schools category, Hoërskool Florida’s Team Flash with Annick Snyman, Jeanne Fourie and Melanie Nel claimed first position.
DSJ Team Noble’s Michael Peet and DSJ Team The Key’s Thomas Volavsek came in second and third respectively.
Father and son teams led the way In this year’s Open class category.
Team Red Mustang’s Ruan and Jacques Janse van Rensburg finished in first position with Team Starbboost’s Otto and Frik Coetzer finishing in second place.
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