Formula 1 is the most popular form of motor sport around the world. It is a sport which relies on, not only athleticism, but on technology and team work. Thanks to the generous support of McLaren, Mercedes-Benz and Biz Karts, SciTech has now developed and is now able to offer children an exciting action lecture!
The lecture appeals to both girls and boys. It explains how forces, friction, aerodynamics and teamwork are all needed for success in F1 racing. The activities include experiments and demonstrations on Forces and Aerodynamics.
We developed this exciting programme for McLaren who were our sponsors at that time. However, McLaren will tell you that their success as an F1 team, has little to do with good luck. So that the children can have first hand experience of the excitement of technology and teamwork, McLaren have made available a variety of components such as wings and wheels etc, for the children to explore. The technical excellence of these components is not enough to win races. You need world class drivers and a totally professional team. We do not have the time to train your children to become mini David Coulthards! but we do have a stunning technological exercise which demonstrates to the children how effective they can be as part of the team....
The go-kart, shown here, was driven by Lewis Hamilton for his World Championship win in the 2000. It was this very vehicle that was sol for charity in 2007. McLaren built special racing jacks and modified the wheels so that, like its F1 cousin, the wheels could be changed in a pit stop!
The Kart we now use was a special upgraded version bulit, modified and donated by one of the top manufacturers of karts, Biz Karts. the car is bigger (more like an F1 car) and much faster to work on. New records have already been broken!
Using up to 18 children at a time, the children form a pit crew to change the wheels on the car. We have everything from simulated fuel, jacks, power wrenches and even the lollipop!
It is a wonderful experience for the children, but an equally wonderful experience for teachers to witness transition from 18 - 20 demanding individuals into a single team!
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The day is organised to suit your requirements. A typical format uses a whole day beginning with a lively interactive lecture on Forces, Friction, Aerodynamics and time, distance and speed. This delivered to a whole keystage or even two keystages for smaller schools. After the lecture some of the children are dismissed to return later, while others take their turn at becoming pitcrews.
