By Cróna Esler – Western People – 20^th March 2007

Pictured are the Ice Fusion team members (Keith Cawley, Bryan Carey, Andrew Finn, Alan Benson, Brian McDermott and John Parsons) being presented with theur Award at the Regional Finals of the F1 in Schools Technology Challenge.

Six Claremorris teenagers proved that they are in a league of their own at the Regional Finals of the F1 in Schools Technology Challenge earlier this month. The South Mayo youngsters put on a great show for the judges and will now go forward to the National Finals in Dublin on March 22.

The team, known as Ice Fusion, is made up of six students from St Colman’s College in Claremorris. Andrew Finn, John Parsons, Brian McDermott, Alan Benson, Bryan Carey and Keith Cawley, put tremendous time and effort into their presentation in the run up to the regional event and their dedication and enthusiasm has certainly paid off.

The F1 in Schools Technology Challenge attracts more than 45,000 students across the world each year, as each compete in a frenzied dash to design, build and ultimately race CO2- powered model F1 cars.

Of the 70 schools that originally entered the competition, a total of 55 teams from 40 schools made it through to the Regional Finals and the Challenge required the teams to design, manufacture and market the model car.

Teams representing schools throughout Ireland went head to head at the regional Finals, testing the speed and engineering quality of the F1 model cars, which they had been working at since September. Using CAD software to model the car’s design specifications, the teams collaborated with third level colleges’ F1 make centres on their construction. The students watched as the colleges used special milling equipment to convert their designs to life.

At the Regional Finals, the Claremorris car made of Balsa wood won all of its four races, achieving an average speed of 1.4 seconds down a 25m track, thanks to Brian McDermott’s reaction times. In addition to their lap times, the teams were judged on their engineering, marketing, graphic design and resource management portfolios and on their verbal presentation of their work.

As Marketing Manager, Brian McDermott had received sponsorship from CBE, Fireplace Madness, The Foodstore, Hillside Service Station and Phelan’s Motor Factors. With this sponsorship he was able to get embroidered and personalised team jackets. This became a major talking point of the verbal presentation, as the Colmans’ lads were the only team with this type of merchandise.

Andrew Finn’s managerial and communication skills also stood the test as he laid out the presentation to the judges. Andrew’s presentation took place in the main GMIT building.

The judges were hugely impressed by the presentation and, in particular, with John Parsons radio interview with Claremorris Community Radio. In addition, they also expressed their appreciation at the effort put in to getting the extra computer monitor set up. This monitor was used to present Bryan Carey’s powerpoint presentation.

As Design Engineer, Keith Cawley explained the design of the car and showed the prototype designs. He also explained how lucky the team were to have made it to Galway at all, as the car had to be remilled in Antrim after an unsatisfactory job in GMIT. As it turned out, the team had a very limited time frame of two days to paint and prepare the car for the big day.

Alan Benson has proved to be an excellent Webmaster, with enough skill and expertise to provide the best team in the West team with a top quality website – which you can visit at www.icefusionf1.com – which was worthy of the Best Website Award he picked up.

After receiving second place overall, the team will now advance to the National Finals in Dublin on March 22. the Claremorris lads are confident of representing Ireland in the 2008 International Finals (in a location yet to be decided). Along with this opportunity the winning team will receive a trip to Honda F1 headquarters in the UK and €5,000 worth of Dell Equipment for their school.

Best of luck to Ice Fusion in next week's Final!