Competition often drives innovation and – as a high school racing event at RRC Polytech recently proved – it can also be an excellent motivator for young people to explore and showcase their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). 

To encourage their natural curiosity in STEM and put concepts they’re learning in class each day into practice, local high school students were challenged to work together by designing, building, and racing miniature, self-propelled cars powered by various forms of mechanically stored energy.   

“This event is designed to promote collaboration and demonstrate how STEM subjects, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics are interconnected, related, and often depend on each other in practical applications,” said Jesse Jamison, Mechanical Engineering Technology and CNC Machining Instructor at RRC Polytech. “In addition to nurturing their talent and sparking their creativity, we also wanted students to feel the sense of accomplishment and pride that working on a successful project brings to each member of a team.”  

Led by their dedicated teachers, seven teams from four Winnipeg schools spent months preparing before hitting the track to race their vehicles against their peers, aiming for maximum speed and accuracy. They followed the standard engineering design process of: 

• asking questions 

• brainstorming 

• planning and designing 

• creating and building 

• testing and improving 

“Identify a challenge. Map out a logical plan. Execute the actionable steps to provide a solution. This universal approach is what they’ll use regularly if they pursue STEM related programs in post-secondary,” said Jamison. “We want them to know that with the right training, the critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to design, build, and race these vehicles can translate directly into high-demand, innovation-driven, fun and rewarding careers.”  

Each vehicle had to cost less than $200, weigh less than 4.5 kg and fit inside a one cubic metre box. Vehicle design and the methods for thrusting them forward varied dramatically but most implemented everyday items like cardboard; wood; lightweight metal; plastic; springs and levers; converted tape measures and mousetraps; and 3D printed gears and components. 

Each team had four attempts per vehicle and had to choose what they deemed their best run across the North Gym floor at NDC. Points were awarded for: 

• Maximum distance 

• Maximum distance per second 

• Maximum precision, closest to a straight line 

• Lightest overall weight of vehicle 

Only a handful of points separated the finalists, and in the end, quantity and quality were ultimately rewarded. Collège Jeanne-Sauvé entered three teams that meet weekly as a lunch-hour STEM club and they swept the podium – but not without some help. Their Louis Riel School Division rivals from Glenlawn Collegiate showed their collaborative spirit and some incredible sportsmanship by supplying the winning crew with a backup tape measure to power their 3D printed car, after theirs snapped on a previous attempt.  

“Glenlawn’s team showed nothing but class, we couldn’t have won it without them,” said Micah Dela Rosa, who also thanked his Team Rapid Tac V4 teammates, Charlie Meyers and Eric Johansen, along with CJS Pre-Engineering Teacher, Drew St. Laurent, who runs their STEM Club. “I love building, tinkering, designing, the whole creative process. So right now, I’m thinking about pursuing electrical engineering. This event was super fun and provided such a great space for all of us to learn.”      

The top three teams earned custom-made working gear medals, and each participant received a single gear keychain souvenir. Each team also took a tour of the manufacturing and robotics labs in the Skilled Trades and Technology Centre guided by RRC Polytech’s instructors and alumni ambassadors who administered the race and are already looking forward to next year’s event. 

“Regardless of the final results, every student here is a winner. They all displayed a combination of critical skills and a passion for learning that leads to success in STEM based careers – and by the looks and sounds of it, they also had a ton of fun doing it!” said Jamison. “We hope to expand next year, invite even more schools to participate, and eventually see many of these talented young people back here as full-time RRC Polytech students in the very near future.” 

Learn more about STEM related programs at RRC Polytech