Human Powered Vehicles 2018
On Saturday 28 April, Frankston High School’s Human Powered Teams (HPV) went to the Knox Grand Prix. The race was at the State Basketball Stadium in Knox. The trike ‘Spitfire’ came 28th and ‘Double Trouble’ came 45th out of 70 trikes. They each placed 3rd and 5th out of 12 in the Middle School division. The team consisted of seven riders in ‘Spitfire’, eight riders in ‘Double Trouble’, four staff members and many parents who ran the repairs and timing station. Mathew Jurinec got the fastest time in the team - 01:53.75, which was a fantastic effort. A big thank you to Miss Libby Nicol, Mr Mick Andrews, Mr Ross Towers and Mr John Albiston for making the Frankston High School HPV event possible, as well as all the team members parents. Thank you to our sponsors Core Fitness Frankston and Signarama Frankston. It was a fun and successful day all round.
Jack Poole
Year 9
“And they're off!” Yells a commentator.
The race commenced and the HPVs fly past creating a fast wind. I look at the first couple of HPVs and see the speed they are racing at, immediately my nerves kick in. I take a deep breath and get ready for the adventure awaiting me.
On 29 April, the Frankston High School HPV team went to the Knox Racing Track to compete. There were two teams, ‘Spitfire’ and ‘Double Trouble’. We raced for six hours straight and each team completed over 100 laps.
We arrived early in the morning to set up and to look at the track. It consisted of sharp corners, big hills and even a famous ‘crash corner’, where the vehicles came downhill, followed by a sharp turn. I remember arriving, my nerves racking my brain and the cold making my teeth chatter. The HPVs were looking even more spectacular than the last time I saw them and there were heaps of people helping to get them ready for the race. The team arrived, and we talked about the upcoming hour and how we were feeling. I remember being so nervous I couldn’t eat!
Soon after we took photos and got everything ready, we heard the call for the HPVs to start to line up. I remember taking ‘Double Trouble’ and ‘Spitfire’ to the grid. I wished my teammates good luck and before I knew it they were off. The race had officially started. I sat, twisting my hands, my helmet tight on my head and my water bottle clutched in my sweaty hands. As ‘Double Trouble’ pulled into our pit I stood up shakily and put on my racing glasses. I got in, clicked my cleats into the pedals and my team mates helped me buckle up. I looked up and Ms Nicol was smiling and giving me advice and tactics. Everyone wished me good luck and, being so nervous, I just smiled in return. The top closed and I started to pedal out of the pit and onto the race track, I took a long deep breath and told myself, I could do it. As I entered the race, adrenaline coursed through me. I raced up the hill as fast as I could and took care on the corners. I was having so much fun! It was the one of best things I’d ever done. As I entered my seventh lap, I was now familiar with the track; it was my first time ever racing in a HPV and I thought I was doing really well. I wasn’t even nervous anymore. I came down the hill at top speed, slowed into the corner safely, went around ‘crash corner’ smoothly and then entered the pit lane. I reached my pit and jumped out. I grinned widely and couldn’t wait for my second go!
It’s an experience I will never forget! In the end we all did extremely well and, of course, we all had fun. We raced, talked, ate and laughed. 'Spitfire' came third in our age category and 'Double Trouble' came fifth. I was super proud of everyone and myself. I can’t wait for next time!
Lillian Karthigesu
Year 7