JP Racing - 2026
HPV Vic Series - Race 3 Sandown Racetrack
On Saturday 25th July, the Jells Park Primary School Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) team
travelled to Sandown Raceway to compete in Round 3 of the Victorian HPV Grand Prix
Series. The race was a seven-hour endurance event, giving every rider the chance to
contribute to the team’s performance.
The day began with setting up our pit area, preparing the vehicle and completing final safety checks before racing began. Everyone had an important role, including riders, pit crew, teammanagers and parents. Good communication and teamwork helped us stay organised throughout the day.
Once the race started, our riders worked hard to maintain a steady pace and complete as
as many laps as possible. During each rider change, the pit crew worked quickly and safely to make the transitions as smooth as possible. Every rider gave their best effort, even when they became tired, and encouraged one another throughout the race.
Before it was my turn to ride, I made sure I was fully prepared. I put on my cycling cleats so
my shoes would clip securely into the pedals, fastened my helmet to keep me safe, and
filled my water bottle with a straw so I could stay hydrated while riding without having to
stop. Once all my gear was on and my vehicle was ready, I felt excited and focused as I
waited for my turn to race.
I was proud of my own performance during the race. I rode for a total of 70 minutes, giving
my best effort throughout each minute. During that time, I gained four laps for my team,
which helped improve our overall result. It was rewarding to see my training and hard work pay off, and I was happy to make a positive contribution to our team’s success. A big challenge for me was the hill at the back of the circuit which felt like it went for so long but with strong determination I completed a total of 9 laps.
Another exciting part of the day was wearing our brand-new Jells Park Primary School HPV jerseys and uniforms for the first time. The new uniforms looked professional and helped us feel like a real racing team. Everyone was proud to represent our school in our new gear and it gave us extra confidence and team spirit as we prepared for the race.
One of the highlights of the day was the outstanding performance of the Jells Park Primary
School teams. Our all-girls team, FURY, rode exceptionally well and won their category.
RAPTOR also had an excellent race, finishing 2nd in their category, while VANQUISH put in a determined performance to finish 3rd. SHAZZAM also raced strongly throughout the day, showing great teamwork, determination and sportsmanship.
These fantastic performances were a reflection of the hard work, dedication and commitment shown by all of our riders throughout the season.
Although the race was challenging, our team showed great determination, resilience and
sportsmanship. We learnt how important strategy, pacing and teamwork are in a long
endurance event. We also gained valuable experience that will help us improve for future
races.
A big thank you goes to our teachers, team managers, volunteers, parents and supporters
who helped make the day possible. Their encouragement and hard work allowed us to
compete with confidence.
Overall, the Sandown Grand Prix was a fantastic experience for the Jells Park Primary School HPV team. With FURY winning their category, RAPTOR finishing 2nd, VANQUISH finishing 3rd, and SHAZZAM giving a strong performance finishing in 5th, it was a very successful day for our school. I am proud to have contributed to my team and I can’t wait to continue training and compete again in the 4th round at Casey Fields.
Tennille P Level 6
As the National Anthem played, nerves completely took over me. My legs wouldn’t stop shaking and my entire body began to freeze. I kept trying to take deep breaths, and eventually, my heart rate slowed down.
Suddenly, the countdown began: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!
Off I went, weaving in and out of the vehicles I passed. I was heading towards a sharp corner, flying at about 40 kilometres an hour. Little did I know, a massive crash had just happened right around the bend. As I whipped around the corner, it was already too late.
BANG!
I smashed straight into a pile-up of cars. The impact threw my chain off and snapped my windshield completely loose. The wind caught it immediately, sending the track marshals on a wild chase to retrieve it. That chaotic crash ended up costing our team about 22 minutes off the track. Luckily, I finally got back on track and pushed hard through my racing stint, riding for around 50 minutes.
The remaining rivers in my team did an amazing job , all braving the cold tough conditions. We worked well as a team and our team (FURY) won the all female category by 7 laps!
At the end of the day, Raptor placed 2nd, Vanquish took 3rd, and Shazzam came 5th.
As Fury won the girls category, we all took home a medal and a massive team trophy for the school!
We all performed amazingly, and I absolutely can’t wait for the next race!
Mia F Level 6
2026 Sponsors
