Hundreds of students, teachers and volunteers filled Maryborough last week for the annual Energy Breakthrough, transforming the town into a buzzing hub of creativity, engineering and teamwork. The five day program brought together school teams from across Victoria to race Human Powered and Energy Efficient Vehicles, present design projects and take part in a range of technical challenges. Teams arrived early to set up large campsites around the event precinct, creating a temporary village of tents, marquees and pit areas. Many schools camped on site so they could stay close to their vehicles and support crews throughout the trials.

Away from the track, the focus shifted to presentations, where students explained the mechanics, safety features and development process of their vehicles. Many teams showcased detailed design posters, models and diagrams, impressing assessors with strong technical knowledge and confident speaking skills. Scrutineering was another key part of the event. Each vehicle underwent a thorough inspection to ensure it was safe and race ready. Scrutineers checked brakes, steering, lights, roll cages and seatbelts, working with teams to fix problems and make improvements. For students, receiving the final approval sticker was a major achievement.

The first night of Energy Breakthrough started with a high energy time trial as all four of our trikes Spitfire, Turbo, Vision, and Bullet took to the track together for their opening run. The sight of all four vehicles racing side by side created an exciting atmosphere and set the tone for a competitive week ahead.

The results of the time trial played an important role in determining where each trike would start in the main race. Faster lap times meant better grid positions, giving some teams a valuable advantage for the long event ahead. Thanks to strong performances from all four trikes, our teams secured solid starting spots that set them up well for the challenges of race day. With everyone launching at once, the track quickly filled with movement and strategy. Riders worked hard to find space, avoid traffic, and settle into a strong rhythm. Even in the busy pack, each team showed confidence, focus, and great awareness of the other trikes around them.

Organisers praised the efforts of the hundreds of volunteers and the strong community support that makes the event possible each year. With thousands of visitors and a vibrant atmosphere across town, the Energy Breakthrough once again proved to be a highlight on the Human Powered Racing calendar.

By Will, Jacob, Poppy, Otto, Greta

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