The RACV Energy Breakthrough is an education
phenomenon that has evolved from a single idea in 1990 into a glorious
festival which is a highlight on many school calendars. But where did it
all begin? And what have been the landmark events along the way?
In 1990, schools from the Country
Education Project (CEP) area known as the Mallee Track competed
in the South Australian Pedal Prix (Now the
Australian International
Pedal Prix, held in Murray Bridge, not Adelaide). The CEP wanted to have a Victorian event
and get more schools involved and in 1991 the Energy Breakthrough
at Maryborough was born, differing from the SA event in that it:
Had
a stronger educational focus,
Catered for a wide range of ages,
Provided
for, and encouraged a range of skills other than just physical
strength; and
Encouraged females into technology.
It is to the planning committee's credit that it has retained these same
values and aims throughout the events evolution.
In the inaugural year the Energy Breakthrough catered for Pushcarts, Human Powered Vehicles (HPVs) and Hybrid vehicles (with dual propulsion methods) and Clever Machines (now Innovations in Technology). Maryborough was chosen to host
the Energy Breakthrough, in an ideal location in central
parklands, adjacent to Jubilee Lake. A track was developed using
existing roads adjacent to the Princes Park precinct with
Jubilee Oval and Maryborough Lawn Tennis courts inside the
track.
This page follows the
history of the Breakthrough through to its most recent chapter.
In 1991, the
event was:
Launched by Minister of Education and Training, The Hon Barry
Pullen in August 1991 as an event for Primary and Secondary
Schools.
CEP (Country Education Project), in cooperation with the
Victorian Department of Education, played a major part in
organisation of the EBT.
Planning carried by committee of Maryborough Chamber of
Commerce and the City of Maryborough.
The RACV was involved from the beginning, with roles in scrutineering
and marshalling in 1991.
The first Energy Breakthrough was held in December.
Pushcart event involved Design and Construction, plus a Trial
in the form of a relay.
Eight pushcart teams competed.
HPVs and Hybrids had Design and Construction plus a 20-hour
trial.
A total of 18 HPVs or Hybrids covering different age ranges
competed in the first Breakthrough.
Most schools had mixed teams of 4 girls and 4 boys.
Schools camped on site next to the track.
In 1992, highlights included:
Event moved to November.
RACV came on board as a major sponsor with naming rights for
the event which was now known as the RACV Energy Breakthrough.
Twenty pushcarts, 35 HPVs and three hybrids entered.
Clever Machines replaced with Innovations in Technology.
Trial for HPVs and Hybrid vehicles extended to 22 hours.
Display and Presentation added as a third component of each
entrys assessment..
Energy Expo held in conjunction with the EBT. The Expo
displayed environmental technology and other energy innovations.
Video tape taken of the event. In most years since 1992, the RACV
Energy Breakthrough has been videotaped.
In 1993:
RACV continued as major sponsor
for the RACV Energy Breakthrough.
EBT managed by CEP and City of Maryborough.
19 Pushcarts, 42 HPVs and 9 Hybrid entries.
24-hour trial for HPV and Hybrid classes.
Pushcarts had three components: Obstacle Course, Sprint Relay
and Circuit Relay.
Pits moved from Phelans building to inside track near tennis
courts.
Interstate entries from SA and ACT.
Vox Bandicoot commenced involvement.
In 1994, the
event was:
RACV continued as major sponsor with
naming rights. RACV provided personnel to look after
scrutineering and the conduct of the trial.
Local State Member Stephen Elder provided excellent support
and assistance to the program.
CEP and DSE with Maryborough City were other major
contributors.
22 pushcarts, 42 HPV and 12 Hybrid entries.
Real time automated timing with each vehicle carrying a
transponder. The event previously timed and laps counted
manually.
Direction of travel reversed to CLOCKWISE to assist pit entry
and exit.
Separate pits for Primary HPV, Secondary HPV and Hybrid
vehicles.
Camping extended to include Jubilee Oval.
Introduction of plastic barriers around course.
In 1995, event highlights
included:
RACV, CEP/DSE and Shire continue
major support of event.
26 pushcarts, 61 HPVs and 10 Hybrids competed.
Major track upgrade involving improved lighting (permanent
street lighting), track widening, pit construction, underground
power to camping areas and general beautification.
4000 campers for the event.
John Paul College wins HPV trial with a wooden fairing
designed for aerodynamics.
Innovations in Technology added Crafty Design category.
In 1996:
RACV, CEP and Central Goldfields
Shire Council continued to manage and run the Breakthrough.
The continued popularity of the RACV Energy Breakthrough was
illustrated by the increased entry list each year, particularly
in pushcarts and human powered classes.
Pushcarts had 35 teams competing this year.
Human Powered Vehicle numbers grew to 80 teams competing in
1996 with 14 in HPVA, 36 in HPVB, 14 in HPVC and 16 in HPV Open
class.
Mt Eliza, Bendigo Senior SC, Geelong Catholic Regional College and Wycheproof
all design and develop faired vehicles - with the speed of the vehicles dramatically improving.
The more technically-challenging Hybrid category entrants
remained fairly static with 8 teams competing this year.
Further track improvements for pit lane area.
In 1997, the
event was:
Management and major sponsorships
continued as before.
Craig Lowndes attended event as a guest and was the official
starter for the RACV Energy Breakthrough.
The RACV Bridge container was introduced as a safety measure
to improve pedestrian movement between the outside and inside of
the track.
Vox Bandicoot took over Newsletter production. This function
was previously undertaken by Graeme Kent.
The RACV Energy Breakthrough won a Certificate of Merit at
the Goldfields Tourism Awards.
Innovations had 57 entries this year.
40 pushcarts, 17 HPVA, 33 HPVB, 17 HPVC, 21 HPV Open and 12
Hybrids.
In 1998:
Management and major sponsorships
continued as before.
Entries continued to increase with 52 Pushcarts, 18 HPVA, 36
HPVB, 9 HPVC, 21 HPV Open and 12 Hybrids.
HPVA (Primary) event was separated from the secondary age HPVs
for the first time to create a safer (less crowded) racing
environment.
HPVA trial ran for 14 hours on Friday and Saturday and
finished before the 24-hour trial for Secondary HPVs.
Pit space shared by Primary and Secondary teams with HPVA
teams vacating after their event finished and HPVB/C/Open/Hybrid
teams moving in.
Traffic Lights used on the corners for the first time to
provide additional marshalling control over vehicles during the
trials.
An additional pedestrian bridge was installed over the track
near the lake.
In 1999, event highlights
included:
Interest in the RACV Energy
Breakthrough continued to increase.
Quotas were introduced because of safety concerns regarding
overcrowding on the track during the trial and because of
limited pit spaces. At one stage there were 22 HPVs on the
waiting list.
52 Pushcarts, 30 HPVA, 29 HPVB, 7 HPVC, 25 Open and 20 Hybrid
entries.
Innovations in Technology had 40 entries with 36 making it to
the event.
SAE ran a Hybrid Vehicle Seminar to assist schools in this
category.
The solar vehicle Aurora was exhibited at the Breakthrough.
Aurora won the World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide.
Over 400 volunteers (judges, marshals, caterers, cleaners,
masseurs, track set-up, first-aid, repair mechanics, camping
management) were involved in the running of the Energy
Breakthrough.
A rainstorm on Sunday morning cut short the secondary trial
which was stopped after 21 hours had been completed.
A re-cycling trailer was utilised during the event. There was
a Waste Wise display at the Energy Expo.
This represented the Ten Year
Anniversary of the event and the 9th as the "RACV
Energy Breakthrough".
2000 highlights included:
The event had 155 entries with 42 initially on the waiting
list.
Introduced Try-athlon event for HPV teams on the waiting list.
Innovations had 31 competitors, Pushcarts 48, HPVA 40, HPVB
35, HPVC 13, Open 16, Hybrids 17 and Tryathlon 6 competitors.
The trials were once again run in an anticlockwise direction,
reversing a decision made in 1994. The anticlockwise direction
meant riders were keeping to the left when they were on the
inside of the track surface which represented what was
required of vehicles in everyday driving.
A new pit lane area was developed in Burns St at the back of
the tennis courts for HPVA vehicles.
Hybrid pits were set up in Napier St, separate from the
secondary HPV pit lane.
Re-sealing and widening of track sections was carried out.
Additional water and electricity supplies, toilets and showers
were required for campers who occupied a bigger area than ever
before.
Recycling caps on wheelie bins were introduced as waste
management became a bigger issue for the event.
The Red Beret parachutists jumped at the Breakthrough with key
EBT personnel able to participate in tandem jumps.
Awards were made to five schools for 10-year participation in
the RACV Energy Breakthrough. Recipients were Bairnsdale PS,
Maryborough East PS, Morwell Park PS, Grovedale SC and
Maryborough Regional College.
RACV personnel Ernest Litera, Ron Maxwell, Greg Hill and John
Doolan received medallions for 10-year contributions.
An Energy Breakthrough Museum was set up to celebrate 10 years
of the event. This was done by local volunteer Norm Rasmussen,
himself a 10-year veteran of the RACV Energy Breakthrough.
In 2001, the
event was:
RACV continued as a major sponsor
with naming rights for the event. CEP and Education Department
of Victoria and Central Goldfields Shire continued to be
involved in a major capacity in sponsorship, planning and
management of the RACV Energy Breakthrough.
The RACV Energy Breakthrough won an Event Management Award for
Regional and Local Events at the 2001 Sports and Recreation
Industry Awards.
A second track was set up known as the HOLDEN Track. Holden
came on board as a major sponsor with naming rights for the new
track.
The original track became known as the RACV Track.
The second track was set up for Hybrid vehicles so they could
race separately from Human Powered Vehicles. The HPVA trial was
relocated to the Holden Track where it continued to be run
across Friday evening and Saturday morning, finishing before the
Hybrid trial.
The introduction of the Holden Track allows a greater number
of teams to participate and took pressure off pit space along
the RACV Track which was no longer required by primary teams or
hybrids.
Pushcart competition was divided into two sections: one for
schools with 150 students or less and the other for schools
larger than 150 students.
Further rationalisation of camping areas took place with
Hockey fields used for Hybrid and Tryathlon teams, and Primary
campers on Princes Park Oval or at the Caravan Park.
The Energy Breakthrough now incorporated Waste Wise recycling.
There were 58 competing in pushcarts, 45 HPVA, 39 HPVB, 11
HPVC, 23 Open, 22 Hybrid, 7 in Tryathlon and 45 in Innovations
in Technology.
2002 event highlights include:
RACV, Holden, CEP and CGSC
continued to play a major role in sponsorship, planning and
management of the Energy Breakthrough.
The RACV Energy Breakthrough won the 2002 Australian Rural
Education Award.
Holden and SAE run a Hybrid Seminar for schools with Hybrid
vehicles or wanting to move into this category.
Maryborough High School, Queensland competed in the EBT.
The Energy Expo underwent a name change to become the Energy
Break Fest.
43 Innovations entrants, 71 Pushcarts, 46 HPVA, 46 HPVB, 18
HPVC, 23 Open, 8 Tryathlon and 24 Hybrid.
Highview College takes over website management.
Colourful weekend 'Event Programme' printed and distributed for the first time.
In 2003, the
event was:
Wet, wet, wet!
Prolonged rain Saturday evening made the event very
uncomfortable and created management difficulties for teams with
regard to drying clothes and keeping riders warm.
130 schools entered which involved 55 more teams over all
categories than last year.
Starting times on the two tracks were separated with the
Holden Track start at 1.00 pm and the RACV Track start at 1.30
pm.
Interstate entrants for NSW, SA and Tasmania.
21 HPV teams initially on the waiting list were offered the
options of going in the Tryathlon or a new event called the
Reserve Event which was held on the Holden Track. The Tryathlon
trial was also held on the Holden Track during the Hybrid event.
Entries were as follows: Reserve 6, Tryathlon 16, Open 23,
HPVC 17, HPVB 45, HPVA 56, Innovations 39, Pushcarts 78 and
Hybrid 23.
A second pit lane was set up on the RACV Track on Burns St
beside Jubilee Oval to accommodate extra teams.
Princes Park Oval and Jubilee Oval completely taken over by
campers.
Primary Schools marshal the HPVA trial.
Newsletter locally produced and distributed electronically.
The year 2004
saw:
Peter Brock as guest
of honour and starter for Holden Track and RACV Track.
316 entries in total for all categories.
Handbook on CD for first time.
Extension work carried out on Holden Track to extend the
length to 1110 metres.
Second pit lane on Holden Track along Park Road. This enabled
organisers to lift event quotas.
Return To Pits stickers applied after collisions and
rollovers. Vehicles with a sticker were required to have a
roadworthy check before re-entering the race.
Emphasis on water-saving by visitors during the RACV Energy
Breakthrough in keeping with local water restrictions.
Car parking fee applied to vehicles in the EBT precinct. Car
pooling and bus travel encouraged. There was a limit to the
number of vehicles per team parking on the Energy Breakthrough
site.
Secondary HPV Trial winner received a 50 lap penalty for late
entry in the event, the first time a penalty of that nature has
affected the overall result.
Bendigo Senior Secondary College breaks Hybrid distance
record, covering 621 kms (589 laps) on the Holden track.
Competing entrants were: 69 Pushcarts, 29 Innovations, 23
Tryathlon, 64 HPVA, 43 HPV B, 18 HPVC, 23 HPV Open, and 26 in
the Hybrid category which was the most ever.
In 2005:
Organisers
celebrate one of the smoothest events on record, with very few
off-track incidents.
Hybrid seminar is held at Swinburne University with strong
attendance. Sessions on material choice, aerodynamics and motor
advice are well received.
Carbon fibre medallions are awarded to team members of overall
winners in each category. These medallions are produced by
former EB participant, Josh Pell.
Event Website is hosted by Bendigo IT and refurbished,
providing a new up to date link between the Planning Committee
and participants.
Event feedback is collected via the event's website for the
first time.
A new pedestrian bridge, sponsored by KFC, is used to improve
traffic flow across the creek on the Holden Track.
New lap timing system is purchased by the Planning Committee
Bendigo Senior Secondary College breaks Secondary HPV distance
record, covering 872 kms (651 laps), on the RACV track.
298 entries in total for all categories, from over 150
schools.
Interstate entrants from NSW, SA, QLD and Tasmania.
Competing entrants were: 71 Pushcarts, 27 Innovations, 24
Tryathlon, 63 HPVA, 45 HPV B, 18 HPVC, 19 HPV Open, and 32 in
the Hybrid category. This is a record number of Hybrids ever.
In 2006:
There was a total of 324 entrants: 71 Pushcarts, 20
Innovations, a whooping 35 in the Tryathlon, 66 HPVA, 43 HPV B,
25 HPVC, 23 HPV Open, and 31 in
the Hybrid category.
Transurban comes on board as a sponsorship provider.
Interstate entrants from NSW, SA and Tasmania.
A wide range of schools scored Display & Presentation, Design
& Construction and Trial wins across the categories - a good
sign of healthy competition.
Event feedback is again collected via the event's website.
Many of the Energy Breakthrough volunteers are called away to
assist in fighting bushfires around the Loddon Mallee and South
West region.
In October, 22 schools involved in the RACV Energy
Breakthrough complete a 1 hour HPV demonstration at the Herald
Sun Tour in Carlton.
