HPV - Human Powered Vehicle

WHAT WE DO

A Human Powered Vehicle, or HPV, is the perfect solution to our growing environmental problems. A HPV derives all of its power and movement from human effort, and thus creates no emissions. McKinnon Secondary College designs and constructs its HPV's itself. It is a time consuming process getting the HPVs from paper to the track.

Along the way, students will learn scientific design techniques, welding, an even the workings of a wind tunnel, as we seek to find all aerodynamic benefits that we can. There are many roles to be filled in our team, ranging from the design and construction of the HPVs, publicity and corporate face of the team, administrators, and of course the riders. The riders train for many hours each week, improving fitness, and hoping to see performance gains on the track come race day.

Our HPV's are put to the test three times per year, racing in gruelling 24 hour events, against hundreds of other schools from Victoria and throughout the nation. These events attract thousands of onlookers. For its 2004 campaign, McKinnon HPV entered three events, the Wonthaggi Grand Prix held in March, September's Murray Bridge Grand Prix, and the year-ending RACV Energy Breakthrough in Maryborough.

WHO WE ARE

McKinnon Secondary College first got involved in HPV racing in 2001, and is now made up of nearly 40 students, ranging from years nine to twelve, and led by teachers from our Science faculty. The Team must not only design and construct their chassis, but also vigorously test their vehicles in preparation for a 24-hour race.

The McKinnon Secondary College HPV is open to participation by students throughout the college.