Forward July 2016 | Page 29

SPORT Pedal prix With the lessons of two years’ involvement in the event to inform us, the Pedal Prix team has made an early start to preparations this year. Since halfway through Term 1 a group of enthusiastic Guildford Grammar School students have gathered in R13 to make plans for the RAC Pedal Prix race to be held in Busselton between August 20 and 21. It was clear to all involved that this year was set to be our best yet. With the help of Mr Richie Longson, Director of Community Relations, and Mrs Heidi Cowcher, whose sons have been keen participants and supporters of the program from the outset, the Pedal Prix team was able to secure sponsorship from a number of generous supporters. Through the support of our great sponsors, the purchase of this new vehicle has allowed the team to enter two vehicles in the August event, thereby increasing our chances of success. Work has already begun on preparing the new vehicle for the race with the boys working after school on either a Wednesday or a Thursday to build and attach the fairing to the frame. Once this stage has been completed the team will begin their training for the event. This will include specific cardio work on exercise bikes as well as the necessity of learning the rules of racing and the safe operation of the vehicle. Needless to say, having so much time to prepare and having a new vehicle, are excellent steps forward in improving our chances of a podium position this year. No matter what the result, all those involved will gain a great deal from this program and it is for this reason that we are so pleased that the Pedal Prix initiative continues to go from strength-to-strength, thanks to the hard work and dedication of all of the boys and supporting staff and through the support of our partners Midland Supa IGA, Logic Cranes, John and Heidi Cowcher, Sunwise Energy, Rick Wilson MP, Contract Aquatic Services, Avon Waste, Caversham Plant Hire and the Guildford Grammar School Parents and Friends’ Society. The RAC Pedal Prix WA event is fast becoming an exciting calendar event for WA cycling. If you have never heard of it, it has been described as the ‘V8 Supercars of cycling’ or ‘Human Powered Vehicle Racing’. Pedal Prix is an exciting, fast paced, highly engaging and very popular extra-curricular activity that has been providing a challenging experience for students across Australia for the last 30 years. Pedal Prix at Guildford Grammar School aims to provide students from Years 7-12 with the opportunity to excel in a range of different areas such as design, engineering, business, sports science and cycling. We aim to be competitive on the race course, but the process is just as important as the final goal. There is still time for students and others to get involved. If your son would be interested in taking part he should go and introduce himself to Mr Perrin. If you, an individual you know or a company you are aware of would be interested in supporting this wonderful program then we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Richie Longson ([email protected]) or James Perrin ([email protected]). 29