Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE

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TEC students prepare race cars

Shepparton Technical Education Centre Automotive students have been given an opportunity to work with two kit racing Arrow Sports Cars as part of their studies in the Certificate II in Automotive Technology throughout 2009.

Arrow Sports Cars have dedicated two Arrow Clubman (Live Axle) car kits to GOTAFE to provide the Technical Education Centre students with practical experience of assembling a vehicle from scratch.

On completion of the projects the two vehicles will be taken to testing sessions at DECA before being let loose on the race tracks of Australia.

GOTAFE CEO Mr Paul Culpan said, "Through the initiative these students will gain real life experience as they would in industry; assembling the car from scratch, starting with the chassis, suspension parts and finishing of with the aluminium sheeting."

The project will allow students to address the outcomes throughout the course including; removing and fitting engines; dismantling, reassembling clutches and final drives, identifying and assembling suspension components, fabricating panels to fit and experience wiring the vehicles.

Technical Education Centre students Mitchell Bell and Cameron McNamara have really engaged in the opportunity to work on the project.

Mitchell said, "It's been really good fun and the project has been an enjoyable learning curve that we've really got ourselves into."

The students are hoping that once the vehicles are completed they will be able to drive the cars at DECA.

Owner of Arrow Sports Cars Mr Russell Butler said he chose to provide the car kits to GOTAFE as a means of encouraging local students to get excited about the Automotive industry.

"It's great to see we can provide our region's youth the opportunity to develop their skills. Arrow Sports Cars are committed to advancing the Automotive industry and we hope we can do this by providing our cars as a training tool for our future workforce. We are proud to be partnering GOTAFE and look forward to this exciting opportunity," said Russell.

For information about courses offered in Automotive phone 1300 GOTAFE (1300 468 233).