Grass Karts from all around the South Island met in Twizel over the weekend for the annual South Island Grass Kart Challenge.

“In its sixth year the Grass Kart Challenge involves secondary school teams over the course of academic year designing and building their own kart design which is then raced at the Challenge final” said Glenys McKenzie, Challenge Team Leader.

The popularity of the Secondary School Grass Kart Challenge saw 24 teams compete on the day from as far afield as Nelson and Invercargill. The Master Class, with eight entries this year, is competed for among teams from various polytechnics whose Youth Guarantees students build the karts as part of their coursework.

“Teams are assessed on the Construction, Appearance, Record Keeping and Performance of their kart with the points for each category evenly weighted with prize packages for first, second and third in each category and overall. We are very appreciative of the support we receive from our sponsors BOC, Blackwoods Protector, Southern Group Training, SIT, Otago Polytechnic, EDI and Tools4Work. The prize packages have been put to good use over the years purchasing equipment for various schools’ technology workshops, and this year are worth $6,150”

Friday night saw the Challenge Team scrutineering each kart, then judging the Construction and Appearance Awards.

On the Saturday the very popular and highly competitive Performance Award was competed for over a series of sprint and slalom races with the best time being recorded for each team. In the afternoon a series of relay races were held to identify the eight fastest karts which raced off in a quarter final, then final relay. Each team had to complete eight laps of the track with four driver changes.

“The look of absolute concentration on the faces of the driver’s and their determination to do well is rewarding for all concerned.” said Mike Grumball Head of Trade and Technology at SIT.

The Challenge is designed to enable young men and women to experience a sample of the work they may be expected to do in a career in the automotive and engineering industries. It builds excellent team work, communication and time management skills with a number of past Grass Kart Challenge student team members progressing on into apprentices” Glenys McKenzie confirmed.

The 2013 Grass Kart Challenge entry forms will be available shortly at www.grasskartchallenge.co.nz

The Overall winning team receives a $1,000 voucher and the Tools4Work Trophy, with second place receiving $500 and third place $250.

Aurora College B

Twizel Aea School

Northern Southland College

The Overall winning team receives a $300 voucher and the Smokefree Trophy, with second receiving a voucher for $200 and third a voucher for $100.

Otago Polytechnic Blue

NMIT - Monster Mobsters

NMIT - Woodstock