The inaugural eastern suburbs soap box derby was an exciting event for primary and intermediate schools in Auckland’s eastern suburbs.

In order to participate in the event teams needed to assemble a kit-set derby car, find sponsors, test the vehicle, and get some practice in before race day. The winning team would go on to compete in the New Zealand champs and potentially represent New Zealand at the World Championships in Ohio.

Getting your communications right in the adrenalin of race day can be a headache for any team. Fortunately Kordia stepped up to the mark when, through its KorKor™ digital two-way radio product, they sponsored Pt. England School, participants in the Pak n’ Save Eastern Suburbs Soap Box Derby 2009.

The partnership was an appropriate one, given Pt. England School won the ‘Computerworld Excellence in the Use of IT in Education: Primary & Secondary Award’ in 2006. 

“KorKor™ promotes good communications between team members because it combines RT and cellphone capability in one unit with a heap of other features. And with KorKor™ involved in the derby, the reality factor for the kids got a huge boost – making the experience like being in the pits at Pukekohe, Bathhurst or Monaco!,” says Olphert.

Kordia’s sponsorship enabled the participants to compete in an event where they learnt a wide range of skills. “The children learned how to work with basic tools, how to read plans, solve difficult tasks, assign jobs such as a driver and pit crew team and learn to drive the car they build.

“With KorKor as its sponsor, the Pt England School team (dubbed PES Racing) had the unique advantage over other teams by utilising cutting edge group communications technology,” says Ophert.

Pt England principal Russell Burt says the sponsorship was instrumental in enabling the kids to participate.

“We were glad to be part of this event. It was wonderful to be able to provide pupils with a hand-on opportunity to learn teamwork and other important life skills.”

For the record Team PES Racing came second in the Eastern Suburbs, allowing them to qualify for the New Zealand nationals. They also won at the Eastern Suburbs championships “Best Car” and “Best Pit Crew”.

100% New Zealand-owned, KorKor™’s integrated two-way digital network makes team communcation simple and efficient, with a crystal clear network and the number of devices reduced from three to one.