pedal prix and UniSA Confirm Sponsorship

 

 

Australian International Pedal Prix Inc (AIPP) is pleased to confirm the establishment of a two year sponsorship agreement with University of South Australia for naming rights of the Australian Human Powered Vehicle Super Series.

The confirmation follows the announcement made at this year’s 24hr Australian International Pedal Prix at Murray Bridge by Deputy Director, Marketing and Student Recruitment Ryan Bailey on the starting grid at Sturt Reserve.

The agreement establishes the continuation of a very successful partnership through to the end of 2025 and this aligns with the expected creation of Adelaide University, a future-focused university that combines the strengths of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide with a target launch date of 2026.

The University of South Australia has been the naming rights sponsors of Australia’s paramount HPV competition, and arguably the biggest human powered vehicle racing series in the world, since 2012, establishing itself as the primary supporter of the sport and series in Australia.

UniSA’s Deputy Director for Marketing and Student Recruitment expressed their enthusiasm in continuing the relationship. “We see the real benefits that Pedal Prix brings to the community, and we want to continue to back them. From primary to high school, old scholars and beyond, the intrinsic positive experiences in areas such as technology, design, engineering, teamwork, health and fitness, sustainability, and the environment are clearly apparent. Furthermore, the sense of community that has been established not just within teams but across the sport as a whole, is something we want to be part of. The University of South Australia are delighted to once again be able to support AIPP and the Series as naming rights sponsor.”

AIPP Inc. CEO Marcus Lacey described the nature of the relationship and what it means to the sport. “The ongoing support of University of South Australia is humbling. They have now been by our side for some 12 years. When COVID crashed the party, and the world became extremely challenging for both parties, UniSA stayed with us. Now, in 2023, at the end of what can be described as the first full season of near normal levels of confidence since 2019, they are with us stronger than ever. The University’s sponsorship has allowed the Series to continue and the events move forward on a solid foundation. As an organisation we are extremely grateful, as a community we are terribly fortunate.”

The Series will once again be called the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series and will get the green light in Mount Gambier for Round 1 on 16 March 2024 at McNamara Park.

2024 UniSA Australian HPV Super Series Provisional Calendar

Round 1 16 March Mount Gambier
Round 2 18 May Tailem Bend
Round 3 14-16 June Adelaide
Round 4 3 August Tailem Bend
Round 5 17 August Busselton
Round 6 21-22 September Murray Bridge

2024 provisional Calendar* released

Mount Gambier’s McNamara Park will be the venue for Round 1 of the 2024 Series

Australian International Pedal Prix Inc. (AIPP) has released the six round 2024 UniSA Australian HPV Super Series Provisional Calendar.

After a review of the 2023 year, venues and dates, the AIPP Board agreed to build upon the stability and structure displayed with the running of this year’s Series and maintain a very similar line up of events for 2024.

CEO Marcus Lacey confirmed the outcome this week. “We believe this year’s calendar demonstrated a sound racing season which provided a variety of venues, locations and dates, and took into account the goals and needs of various stakeholder groups. It also delivered in terms of meeting the organisation’s Mission Statement which calls for high-quality events that provide educational and community learning experiences across a broad range of areas.”

“While the Board considered a number of options and alternatives, making little change to the calendar for next year was considered the best path forward. Riders and teams have familiarity with the circuits and know what to expect at each, along with experience in the planning, logistics and race weekend management. This calendar is well structured and inclusive.”

Mount Gambier’s McNamara Park will lead off the season on 16 March, albeit slightly earlier due to Easter and circuit availability. Positioned halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne, the city is ideal to provide a great weekend of racing for the hundreds of human powered vehicles based across the two states.

The stunning Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend (formerly The Bend Motorsport Park) will again host two rounds, one each in May and August, with Adelaide’s Victoria Park hosting Round 3 sandwiched between them.

The Adelaide Round will return to a three-day Festival of Pedal Prix with Junior Schools running on Friday, Community teams Saturday, and High School teams on the Sunday.

Busselton, the Events Capital of WA will welcome teams from three states to Round 5 of the Series at the beautiful Geographe Bay foreshore before teams converge on Murray Bridge for the Series’ climactic 24hr endurance race in September.

2024 UniSA Australian HPV Super Series Provisional Calendar

Round 1 16 March Mount Gambier
Round 2 18 May Tailem Bend
Round 3 14-16 June Adelaide
Round 4 3 August Tailem Bend
Round 5 17 August Busselton
Round 6 21-22 September Murray Bridge

 

AIPP Mission Statement

Organise and manage a series of world class HPV racing events which provide the opportunityfor educational and community learning experience. These learning experiences include enterprise, engineering, technology, competition, teamwork, safety, health, nutrition, fitness, sustainability and the environment.

*Subject to change

Murray Bridge Win “Special” for Trump Trikes

Victory for Trump Trikes Factory Racing at this year’s 24hr Australian International Pedal Prix at Murray Bridge was a satisfying fulfilment of well-constructed plan.
“We came into The Bridge with one goal and that was to win the race,” stated team owner Jason Nottle. “We executed the plan nearly to perfection. I can’t fault our riders one bit,” he added.
The winning trike, #5 Trump Trikes [601] finished with a record equalling 669 laps and a best lap time of 1:55.080.
What’s more, the outfit’s second trike, #204 Trump Trailers, finished in 3rd position.

Top 15 Shootout

She’s The Man – Qualified for the Shootout as fastest All Female

Welcome to race day at Murray Bridge for the 24hr Australian International Pedal Prix.

At 9:30am today the Shootout is on! The top 15 HPVs have been selected from yesterday’s practice and will comprise of trikes from several categories:

Fastest 2 in S2, fastest 2 in S3, fastest 3 All Female, fastest 5 Community, fastest 1 C5, fastest 1 C6 and fastest 1 masters.

They are:

175 Wattle Racing Gunyah C7 01:39.9 61.601 15 VIC

20 UniSA Pedal Prix Team EVO C7 01:43.6 59.442 22 SA

5 Trump Trikes Factory Racing Trump Trikes [601] C7 01:43.8 59.302 32 SA

23 Gtrikes Matrix Pro C7 01:46.3 57.931 9 SA

101 Manhattan Trikes Payback C7 01:49.2 56.395 9 SA

87 Kings Baptist Grammar School K2 S3 01:51.1 55.387 13 SA

135 St Josephs College Mildura Mallee Missile (X) S3 01:52.4 54.778 19 SA

115 Unley High School Mach 1 C5 01:53.8 54.11 5 SA

203 Wimmera HPV The Perfect Match C6 01:54.8 53.619 7 SA

43 Wild Boar Racing Wild Boar (M) C7 01:58.2 52.094 2 SA

250 Temple Christian College Thunderbird 2 S2 02:01.9 50.491 11 SA

3 Pembroke School Phoenix S2 02:03.5 49.836 19 SA

181 Wattle Racing She’s the man (F) C7 02:08.1 48.062 22 VIC

116 Pipsqueak Racing Sassy (F) C6 02:20.0 43.957 1 SA

9 Norwood International High School Spurls (F) S3 02:31.9 40.533 2 SA

Queensland Pedal Prix Guns Fly In

Geoof Wood, centre, with Qld racers Reilly and Ryan Billingham setting up at Murray Bridge

Brothers Ryan and Reilly Billingham, key team members for the Queensland HPV Super Series Champions, AQ Elite Racing have arrived in Murray Bridge for this weekend’s 24hr Australian International Pedal Prix.

Last weekend’s final round of the northern state series in Toowoomba saw the Aquinas College outfit take the crown. Key riders for the team, the twins seized the opportunity to take up an offer to ride for G Trikes at Murray Bridge this weekend.

“Its completely different to the Queensland where fields max out with 50 trikes per race, and the team camaraderie, the teamwork here at G Trikes with Geoff is great. The machine and racing here is absolutely insane. It’s such a quick trike. We race the same one at school, but there’s little things you notice that Geoff really think about and the changes make it so much quicker than anything we race before,” said Reilly.

“Its great to have riders of their calibre join ust at Murray Bridge this weekend,” said Wood. “they add another dimension to our outfit.”

 

Junior Schools return to The bridge

Junior School Teams at the Victoria Park circuit.

Select Junior School teams, Category S1, will race in this weekend’s 24hr Australian International Pedal Prix at Murray Bridge.

The event at the riverside circuit of Sturt Reserve, is the jewel in the crown of the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series. It is the grand finale of the season and it’s challenging 24 hour format a strong drawcard for all.

The event had been unable to be held since 2019 due to Covid, and with its return in last year, did not include Junior School teams. The decision was made in the interests of safety on the basis that none of the Junior School competitors would have ever raced there before. What’s more, all of them would have had limited HPV racing experience, and the grueling 24 hour format, incorporating night-time running and significant speed differentials, created a scenario where extra care had to be taken.

For 2023 it was resolved that Junior School teams could return to the event, with certain criteria. In the interests of safety, provision was made for up to ten vehicles in the Junior School category to receive an offer. The ten teams were decided by the entrants’ provisional standings in the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series Junior School category (S1) at the completion of round five at Geographe Bay, Busselton, on 20 August, 2023.

Teams accepting the offer and returning to the event this weekend are:

31         Crafers Primary School The Comet

4            Brighton Primary School Thunder

54         Westbourne Park Primary Airbourne

193       Highgate Primary Schools Hotrod

46         Holy Trinity Lutheran College Thunder

176       Murray Bridge North School The Beast

137       Brighton Primary School Bolt

Series CEO Marcus Lacey elaborated just how significant the development is. “The return to Murray Bridge for Junior School teams is long overdue. Some four years will have passed since they last raced at Sturt Reserve. We are thrilled to be able to again provide the opportunity for Junior School teams to race at this iconic event.”

patrick Kelly Joins board

The Board of Australian International Pedal Prix Inc. is pleased to announce the appoitment of Patrick Kelly to the Board.

Patrick Kelly is a strategic business development and advancement professional currently working in an executive leadership role at Blackfriars Priory School, Prospect, South Australia. He is a Fellow of Educate Plus, Australasia’s peak body for advancement professionals, serving as the organisation’s Chair from 2014 to 2016 and Deputy Chair from 2012 to 2014.

A Blackfriars Old Scholar, Patrick’s role at his alma mater encompasses responsibility for all facets of educational advancement – student recruitment and admissions, marketing and communications, old scholar and community relations and fundraising. In addition, Patrick manages the school’s burgeoning International Student Program.

Patrick’s involvement with Pedal Prix started in 2003 during his tenure as Marketing & Communications Manager at St Columba College, Andrews Farm. Identifying the sport as a marketing and publicity opportunity for the relatively new school, he worked with the Design Technology department to help engage the broader school community in the sport through sponsorship and parental involvement.

HPV innovation and marketing were the chief drivers behind the introduction of Pedal Prix to the new Australian Technical College – Northern Adelaide in 2007. Patrick used the school’s participation in the HPV Super Series as a key component to promote the institution to families and engage with local industry partners who were critical in the development of the specialist technical and trade training school, now known as St Patrick’s Technical College.

Using the Formula Triseld platform, Patrick led the introduction of Pedal Prix at Loreto College, Marryatville, during his time there as Director of Strategic Development in 2008, 2009 and 2010. A highly engaged parent community was a hallmark this period which also saw the team win the Junior Secondary (girls) category at the 2010 Australian International 24-hour Pedal Prix at Murray Bridge.

After an eight-year hiatus from the sport, Patrick was invited to start a Pedal Prix program at Blackfriars in 2019. Now in its fifth year, with strong support from the school’s management and a highly engaged parent group, the program has developed from a single cycle into a competitive outfit with three teams competing across the S2 and S3 categories. The school is successfully building the sport with a multi-faculty approach across Creative Arts and Design Technology, Health and Physical Education, Nutrition, STEM and Information Technology. In 2023 this was expanded to include a Creative Arts design project for students in Years 5 and 6.

Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the organisation, and adds real world Pedal Prix experience spanning many years. Welcome Patrick.

Busselton Ready to Race

The UniSA Australian HPV Super Series returns to the picturesque Western Australian City of Busselton for Round 5 of the 2023 Series this Sunday, 20 August. The stunning coastal destination located 220km south of the state’s capital Perth will also double as the third and final round of the 2023 Epiroc WA Pedal Prix Series.

Following the event’s post COVID return last year, 2023 sees a 28% increase in entries to 37 with teams coming from Victoria, South Australia and WA.

“We love coming to Busselton. The location is ideal, there’s a great mix of teams, and the community is always supportive,” said Series CEO Marcus Lacey. “Coming back to Busselton is a real highlight of the calendar.”

“We are thrilled to be part of the Busselton event as it is the climax to our three round Series here in Western Australia,” added WA Chairperson Ben Clayton.

The competition is for both school and community teams, with a strong contingent of WA teams represented including Hale School, Wesley College, Armadale SHS and Duncraig to name a few. Reigning schools champion, Pembroke will make the trek from Adelaide.

In the community categories, teams from WA will battle representatives from SA and Victoria.

In 2023 the circuit will be extended to over a kilometre and will remain technically challenging, demanding and a lot of fun. The Geographe Bay foreshore is an ideal venue with teams able to operate from pit spaces within the facility.

Vehicle scrutineering will taker place on Saturday afternoon before race start on Sunday at 10:00am.

“The City of Busselton has been instrumental in making this event happen and we extend our gratitude and thanks for their support,” said Lacey.

Race Day Schedule – Sunday 20 August  

  • 7.00am Venue open for team access
  • 9.20am Teams to Grid
  • 9.30am All Marshals in position
  • 9.50am Clear the Grid
  • 10.00am Race Start
  • 4.00pm Race Finish
  • 4.15pm Presentations