What is this Challenge?

The Human Powered Challenge is an exciting annual event for HPV enthusiasts, and for keen secondary and tertiary students. Teams will design and build human powered vehicles. These will be raced on a closed circuit at the Canterbury Agricultural Show-grounds.

The Challenge is made up of three events:

A Drag Race
A Cargo Race
A 1 hour Endurance Race

The first Challenge was run in 2004 and was the first time such a challenge has been run in New Zealand. Similar challenges are regularly run elsewhere in the world, and it is their success that has inspired us to establish an annual event here.

What is it about?

The successful teams in the Challenge will not be the most technically competent designers, or the best builders, or the fittest and strongest riders, but the best blend of these attributes.

All members of a team must contribute to the operation of their vehicle during the race, so team-work and a balancing of individuals' strengths and weaknesses by careful planning will also be a significant element of ultimate success. This is more than a simple technical challenge; it involves physiological issues, ergonomics, project management, strategy, group and personal organisation.

These multiple facets make entry in the Hour Challenge a great learning experience and an exciting school project.

Who can enter?

The Human Powered Challenge is open to teams from secondary schools and tertiary institutes in New Zealand.

There are several classes of entry, based on the type of vehicle and the ages of the team members. These provide opportunities for teams of varying skills and resources to be able to participate and enjoy a sense of achievement.

Here is more about the rules and the races...

What's this about building a vehicle?

For the Human Powered Challenge, you design and build and test your own vehicle or adapt an existing vehicle.

You do not need many material resources to produce a vehicle since bicycle components can be cheaply acquired from second-hand sources. Vehicles capable of respectable performance can be constructed in metal or wood or composite materials, depending on available tools and facilities, and the creativity of the team.