An innovative way to involve students in the manufacturing industry is manufacturing miniature solar cars.
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Wilson Transformers hosted their annual solar car challenge in Wodonga on Friday.
Eleven school teams and important community members participated in the remote-controlled event.
Scots School Albury have taken home the bragging rights for the last two years in the competition, which started in 2003.
Car carnage and banter between drivers was aplenty.
Wilson Transformers trainer and assessor Rodney Anderson said the year 9 and 10 students got plenty of industry experience.
“It brings different high schools into the manufacturing industry,” he said.
“It’s an industry that thrives in Albury-Wodonga, and it opens their eyes up to manufacturing.”
Mr Anderson said teams were given full creative control over how they designed their vehicles.
“The kids are given the components and dimensions and they could build it any way shape or form,” he said.
“Their mentors came along and gave them guidance, and there’s different sizes and configurations.”
Mr Anderson said the design process began in February.
“They got the information and had three months to decide if they wanted to participate,” he said.
“Teams had four to five months to complete their car.”
Benambra MLA and winner of the celebrity race Bill Tilley emphasised the effort the company put into organising the occasion.
“To see them support our youth and the next generation of innovators is very important,” he said.
Mr Tilley said the students he spoke to were enthusiastic.
“They’re encouraged and enthused and been working on this for quite some time,” he said.
Border Christian College completed 119 laps in the one-hour race to be crowned winners.
Corowa High School finished second with 91, while Wodonga Middle Years College finished third with 90 laps.