FINALLY, after some very difficult COVID-19 years , Damascus SRT returned to the track!

Despite the many challenges and worries regarding attending the Tailem Bend Race; it is a very big event with a team that hasn’t been able to gain a lot of experience (due to COVID restrictions and guidelines), what a wonderful experience it was for all involved.

The lead-up to participating at this event includes several weeks of preparations, training, packing, planning and crossing of fingers. Members of the Damascus College Sustainable Racing Team ( 18 students from yr7 to yr 12) staff and volunteers left Ballarat at 6 am on Friday morning. They were bussed to the amazing Tailem Bend Motorsport Park, recently voted the best of its kind in the world. After the 7 hour bus trip the attendees set up camp and enjoyed a delicious meal thanks to the wonderful team of volunteers.

The team were up at 5 am and soon set up at the nearby track in time for a 9 am grid with 190 other teams.

The Damascus students were wonderful, riding well, listening to instructions, helping each other and being polite and energetic ambassadors for the team and Damascus College.

Damascus College SRT Coordinators Alan and Rachael weren’t concerned about the final position in the event as participating in this event was in large part to familiarise a relatively new team with the whole Human Powered racing experience. Feedback from the students who participated was positive, thoughtful and enthusiastic. Parents who attended, and other members of the delegation were overwhelmingly proud of the team, and even shared feedback from other attendees “The adults commented that they had been observing our students/SRT team and were most impressed. They noted that they worked as such a great team and it was noticeable that all rose to their individual strengths. They noted that we had older ones giving motivational pep talks to junior riders, some taking on leadership roles, all so well-mannered and all really just plain enjoying themselves.

At the end of a gruelling 8 hours of racing, the teams achieved these impressive outcomes:

The junior team (up to yr 9) driving THING 2 completed 48 laps or 158 kms. Finishing position 37 in class

The senior team (yr 10 -12) driving THING 1 completed 58 laps or 191 kms. Finishing position 41 in class

Congratulations to all who took part, what a wonderful achievement and such a great display of sportsmanship.

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