D E S I G N & T E C H N O L O G Y
THE GREENEST RACING OF ALL – FORMULAGRAVITY
DAvIDAckROyD, a former science teacher who has been retired for ten years, heads an organisation with the intriguing name of Formula Gravity. He has devised a project to
build soapbox racing cars which speed downhill purely with the aid of gravity. The DIYcars have no brakes – stopping is achieved by means of a mini pararchute. David told Technology in
Education: “Ten years ago my son Jonathan wanted to build something in the garage. I asked him what he would like. He said he would like a soapbox cart. I thought this would take about one afternoon – that was the start of a quest that is still not finished. “The end result of that
afternoon’s work was two months hard work and a racer that looked a bit like an old Bentley. Jonathan loved it and used it around his village near Ipswich for the following year. Then inMay of 2001 I read in the Daily Telegraph that gravity racers, high tech soapboxes, raced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This seemed like a good place to try out our handiwork. This was where my passion for gravity racing started.” Eventually, David turned this passion into almost a full-time business. David explains: “We offer a
unique opportunity that offers a totally green engineering project. Our racers are the ultimate in green racing. To combat pollution and global warming, we need the UK to have the cleverest future engineers.We are helping to inspire and train this generation with a fuel-free racing environment. “The project is designed by
teachers and students for teachers and students and involves pupils with model building at Key Stage 3 to construction at Key Stages 4 and 5 and engineering diplomas at college. It is obtainable within a school/college academic year and is linked to the national curriculum at GCSE. Design and technology students can achieve the build while other subjects such
“Students can form race teams
comprising managers, engineers and drivers for race days. These should operate as an F1 team as well as the team back at the school/college. The UK Gravity Sports Association runs tried and tested race venues across the UK and schools and colleges can enter events which will pit their skills against the best in the UK, while also designed for younger teams in safety and levels of skill. “We offer world-beating expert
as art and English can also become involved. “Formula Gravity is a project
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– “The project can stretch
Gravity racing cars stop with parachutes. For further information on FormulaGravitycontact DavidAckroyd on 01284 830 428.
that can be used as either an after-school club activity with a few students or best of all as a whole school project using the skills of many school faculties, to include technology, design, business studies, art, English, IT, photography and other aspects that individual tutors can offer. “We offer curriculum advice
and help at all levels of study and have our own space frames and suspension units which we can supply to schools who would like them. This does all the hard parts, allowing schools to get on with the attainable design and engineering, ending with success every time. “Our racers can be built to
varying engineering standards from the most simple to the most sophisticated, the most economical to the super version. They can be stripped down at the end of the year to start again with learned improvements with the next cohorts of students, improving the best knowledge (and races) year on year. “Racers that are built to our
own design and supplied spaceframes are built to the National Technical Specifications for Gravity Racers so they will pass scrutineering to race in any of the UK, USAor European events.
Technology in Education No.176 June/July 2010 36 Rigorous safety standards are applied to cars and the procedures as the
land speed record for these amazing engineless vehicles is 100 kph. Bear in mind that Eurostar on its London–Paris run tops over 300 kph. Seen above is the record-breaking car with the team
suppliers for components, from cheap and cheerful to specialist designed and crafted. “We hold our own annual
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– awarded by tutors to encourage achievement at all levels. For further information contact:
one-day seminar/workshop, at the world-famous Brooklands Museum, for tutors and/or pupils, displaying all you could wish to know about gravity racers from design to build, project and race management and careers in engineering.
DavidAckroyd, Formula Gravity, OctoberHouse, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP29 4DR. Telephone: 01284 830 428 or 07947 562342. Email:
gravity.racing@virgin.net
Circle No.E19 Check out our website:
www.technology-in-education.co.uk
students academically as far as tutors wish and is especially good for finding, researching and using different materials with which to build various components of the vehicle. Gravity Racing offers lists of
engineering advice and backup and create interaction between school/college and community, also linking with national and international companies. “Gravity Racing attracts a high
profile publicity opportunity – we attained the world land speed record in September and offer a log book for recording students’ progress together with a Formula Gravity Citation to students
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