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The Challenge
Issue 20
October 2003

CONTENTS

- Welcome to a New Season
- Kit Change Info
- Electric Challenge
- New Look Web Site
- School Visit Schedule
- Shows

CONTACTS
Ordering and Curriculum - Rob Austin (01869 819582)
Shows and Finance - Lesley Best & Janice Fennymore (01869 819582)

Welcome to a new season....

I believe I speak for all who participated in last year’s event in saying that it was highly enjoyable, challenging and rewarding. So... another year, another challenge.
Welcome to all the schools returning to the challenge and the new schools taking up the challenge. Through the regular newsletters we hope to provide you with interesting information and details of how the challenge develops to the final Race Day. Some of the information we will be publishing will be a repeat, however, each new challenge involves new team members, so all should benefit. Good luck!

Rob Austin - Formula Schools
New Look Web Site
Our new web site will have more information to help you with the challenge as well as lots of stuff that will help you in Technology in general.
To make navigation simpler we have created a new ‘front end’ and added many new sections, especially within the Curriculum section.
Take a look and tell us what you think. The new site will be up by early October.

Dates For Your Diary

Design & Technology Show, NEC 27-29 November 2003


Kit Changes

· PTFE Clutch
· Exhaust
· Tyres

 New Clutch
Gone is the old cork clutch drum lining and in it’s place is the new thicker walled clutch drum and PTFE shoes. For those who are not new to the scheme that means the older clutch drums cannot be interchanged with the new unless you want the clutch to engage at very high revs.

Exhaust
This year sees a much improved exhaust system incorporated with the standard components. The exhaust is an all steel construction and swaged together.

Tyres
The standard foam tyres on most of the kits have been made by gluing two sheets together but this leaves a glue ridge down the centre and a scalloped profile. They will wear in or you can true them prior to running as shown.
Using an 80 grid sanding board the tyres are gently dressed to the desired profile. Don’t overdo this or you will reduce the diameter.

The Electric Challenge


The Electric Challenge
This is a smaller scale challenge ie. 1/12th scale, to run along side the main IC event. It will have its own race including a Grand Prix and a time trial/accurate driving challenge.

This project can be undertaken by more pupils at the school but still offers an engineering challenge.

Contact us if you wish to find out more or look at the new web-site.

2003/2004 Calendar

REGION
LAUNCH/VISIT 1
VISIT 2
VISIT 3
Surrey & Kent
Mondays and Thursdays by Appointment
Berkshire
Mondays and Thursdays by Appointment
MKOB
Sept 09-18th
Jan13th-22nd
Mar 30th-Apr 1st
North Notts
Sept 16th
Feb 3rd-5th
Apr 20th-22nd
South Notts
Sept 16th
Feb 10th-12th
Apr 27th-29th
Derby
Oct 14th-16th
Jan 27th-29th
Apr 20th-23rd
North W.Mids
Sept 24th
Feb 24th-26th
May 4th-6th
South W.Mids
Sept 24th
Mar 2nd-4th
May 11th-13th
Sefton
Nov 18th
Mar 10th
May 10th



Pro-Desktop Images
To supplement the standard drawings supplied with the kit we have produced all major components as pro-desktop files. Many of you will be using this software in school and can investigate assembly and component features in a virtual environment. You will also be able to download NC files if you have equipment to manufacture them with. It can also be used as a research element of Design and technology work in many different ways. The whole car as a pro-d file is too large to download on many systems, so if you want a full copy then please contact dug@formulaschools.com and one will be sent out.

Town & Country Show

This was attended by Shipston High School, showing examples of the Formula Schools project in the Imagineering Zone. A track to drive their cars on alongside the Formula Student Scheme was a great success and crowd puller. We will be there next year so get it in your diary as it is a great show, to attend and your school could have a display and take part in the track activity. More information will appear in the newsletter and on the web-site.

Trevor Bayliss had advice for wannabe inventors in the Imagineering Zone
Design & Technology Show

Once again we are going to be at the DT show at the NEC for the three days and will be available to chat, answer questions.
Kirk Hallam Technology College will be on the stand manufacturing components .
Come and see the range of products and equipment for yourself.
NEC 27-29 November 2003


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