OCVTS Holds First Annual Recycle Rally
Jean Sullivian, May 19, 2011

WARETOWN, NEW JERSEY Ocean County Vocational Technical School recently held its 1st Annual Recycle Rally at the Waretown Center on Wells Mills Road. Students were challenged to design and build a human-powered vehicle using recycled materials. The vehicle had to be able to maneuver through a race course and demonstrate its ability to turn and stop. Judging was based on innovation of their design, oral presentation of the design and construction process, safety features and finishing times on the course.

Students from the Small Engine Repair Program from the OCVTS Jackson Center and Automotive Servicing Program from Waretown each entered two vehicles. Materials used included bicycles, a wheelchair, a pedal boat, pipes and wood. Donned in all of the necessary safety gear, two-man teams maneuvered their vehicles through the course demonstrating their ability to make direction changes, including a K-turn and completing the course as quickly as possible. Students from several other programs were on hand to observe and cheer on the competitors.

The overall Grand Champion of the 1st Annual Recycle Rally was the Waretown Boatcar, piloted by team members Matt Kortenhaus of Toms River and Andrew Leroy of Bayville, both from Pete Radford’s Auto Servicing Program.

According to OCVTS Principal John Biscardi, “I think it was a good showing for our first year. Now that students see what is involved and how much fun it can be, we are expecting a much bigger event next year.”

Photos Caption: Design and construction of the 1st Annual Recycle Rally vehicles showed great creativity and innovation.