Feilding High School Sidecar Project

In 2013, three Year 13 students from Feilding High School—Karel Beukes, Tanek Gardner and Toby White—approached FDL for assistance with an ambitious engineering project. Their goal was to construct two racing sidecars, based on Formula 2 sidecar designs, for the annual New Zealand Secondary Schools Mini Moto Competition.

With guidance from the FDL team, the students took the project from their initial concepts through to the manufacture of the completed fibreglass bodywork. They shaped the original forms from polystyrene—improvising with a barbecue-cleaning tool—before progressing through the mould-making and composite-manufacturing stages themselves.

The project gave the students practical experience with design, tooling and fibreglass construction while demonstrating what can be achieved when local industry supports hands-on technical education.

It was big eye-opener for us. We didn't know how hard it would be.

Tanek - Student

We have learnt so much more, and it has been a good skill to have. If we didn't have their support and sponsorship our bikes wouldn't have been so good. 

Toby - Student

They came to see Steve Bond and he has been incredible to them. I can't sing his praises enough. This is a great example of how our local businesses can work alongside and support students achieving their goals. We can't thank them enough.

Roger Emmerson - FAHS Engineering Teacher & NZ secondary Schools Mini Moto Competition President.

It was easy to assist with this project. Here were some young guys actually keen to get down and do the graft themselves. It gave them the practical skills exposure, exposure to the intricacies and benefits of composites and since they are off to do engineering degrees, this information will no doubt sit in their memory for future use. They were enthusiastic, intelligent and it was a pleasure having them at FDL.

Steve Bond - Owner FDL