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home > info > international friends > AIPP (Australia) Australian International Pedal Prix - AIPPInformation
Following other investigations back in 1999, we were informed of the existence of a similar race formula in Australia by the good folks at the sadly now-defunct Bike Culture Quarterly magazine. My descriptive powers are a little limited, being as I am half a world away, so I'll quote from an email received (4th December 2001) from Stephen Rowe of RaceTime, the official timekeeper and lap scorer for the various events: "Just some more information for you to bring you up to date on Australian events. "We currently have three 24 hour Human Powered Vehicle events running 'down under' - Murray Bridge (the AIPP which you already know about); Maryborough, Victoria or the RACV Energy Breakthrough which is now in it's 12th year and the baby event - the Wonthaggi 24 Hour Human Powered Event (Wonthaggi being located in Victoria to the east of Melbourne). "We currently use timing transmitters on each of the vehicles so, in theory, we have no practical limit to the number of vehicles running - Murray Bridge ran 150 vehicles this year and want to start (or at least accept entries for) 200 vehicles! "We generate live results broadcast around the track via TV, provide a printed summary every hour (and, for some teams a disk based version of this for ongoing analysis by teams during the event), and at Murray Bridge, a detailed report every 3 hours to each team (similar to the individual team results placed on the web site). We also have the capability of transmitting race results live to the Internet so that anyone, anywhere, can view race results a maximum of 6 seconds after the vehicle crosses our timing line. "This year we cut staff down again and ran with 4 people at Murray Bridge over the 24 hours - basically 1 person per shift - although at Maryborough we had to provide two teams of 3 people as for the first time we ran two 24 hour events, on two tracks adjacent to each other at the same time - the main event on a 1.3km course for 85 vehicles (all human powered vehicles) and, starting 30 minutes later, on a 900 metre course, 40 hybrid powered vehicles (HPV and one other motive source). The two tracks timing positions were located 450 metres from each other and to say my legs were tired walking between the two is an understatement! "Although we have been using the Australian DATA-1 system for the past 8 years at these events, we are contemplating changing next year to an AMB system - age is starting to show on the DATA-1 system plus we need something a little lighter than the 500 gram transmitters we currently use (although once charged they will last to between 10 and 14 days so we *know* they will work! But, obtaining 200 of them is also becoming a problem... "So - that's what is currently happening in Australia - although another 24 hour event is being planned to commence in Maryborough, Queensland next May and one of the main competitors at these events - Geelong Catholic Secondary College is attempting to start their own 24 hour race at Geelong in Victoria (to the west of Melbourne) so we could conceivably have 5 of these 24 hour events running by 2003... I will try and keep you posted." 2001 race results links:
The Australian races are dominated by school teams of various ages and the AIPP was originally set up for this purpose. Rather than being a race series that would, coincidentally, make an excellent technology project (as the BPCC is), the AIPP is an annual technology project that culminates in a 24 hour race - this is a very good idea as a 24 hour race will always be the ultimate proving of a vehicle's design and construction, as well as the fitness of the driving team. The race also provides a very solid deadline to work to. The AIPP formula does not demand four wheels, and most vehicles have three, however the rules are far more stringent in other areas, with four-point harnesses, full undertrays, roll-over and side-impact protection systems (amongst others) all mandatory at some events. There are also several classes including hybrid (electrically-assisted) and a two-seater class, which gives rise to some very unusual looking machines. A small number of pictures from Australia are available in this website's Picture Gallery (Australia section, oddly enough) and you can find out more at www.pedalprix.com.au. Need bike type stuff? Try our affiliates (What is this?):
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