Team Sweetie Girl Racing kicking butt with Alan Nursall

As a high school student, math and science were some of the subjects that I excelled in. Though I LOVED art, english and history, every test, every quiz and every question in math and sciences had one correct answer only – and made life seem easy to me. With university on the horizon, I was on-track to become an engineer and obtained all the necessary marks to get accepted into the prestigious University of Toronto and Waterloo Engineering programs.

Easy choice, right? Nope! A 180-degree turn at the last minute meant I chose to venture into graphic design, thinking I had given up any future hope of a technical career. A choice I sometimes reflect upon, knowing NOW how appropriate it would have been for my passion for motorsports. But nevertheless, it’s something I try not to dwell on…

So imagine my surprise to get an email from one of the TV producers from the Discovery Channel to feature SGR in the Alan Nursall experience!

Early morning track walk with Team SGR

The Alan Nursall experience is a segment on the Canadian television series Daily Planet that leans toward technology experiments beyond the lab. He’s frequently found interacting with students and people on the streets – “in the field” – and gets a kick out of getting people excited about whatever topic he’s exploring that week – and this is likely why Sweetie Girl Racing was his next target. We’re an excitable bunch!

Alan Nursall strapped into the go kart and ready to rock

Alan Nursall chasing down Team SGR

So on Friday June 24, the Alan Nursall Experience teamed up with Sweetie Girl Racing to  explore the science and geometry of the perfect racing line. Filming on a weekday proved difficult for a lot of our current Team SGR members, who carry full time jobs during the day. Luckily, summer had just broke out and we were fortunate to round up Katie Cheung, Brooke Trefry, Laura and Lilla Rupert, Varmini Singh and Shelby Grant – past participants and graduates of the Team SGR Kart Racing Experience – to strut our stuff!

Driving exercises while the producer Stephen looks on

Katie and Brooke lay the rubber on the track

The majority of the segment is focused on the central section of the Grand Prix Kartways track, where a combination of quick turns around corners of various lengths make up the most technical part of the track. We laid down pylons and explained the fundamentals of the optimum line – the best combination of arcs through corners and paths down the straights – as a tool to put yourself in a position to post the fastest possible time around the track. There were hits, there were misses, and everyone LOVED it!

Going through the science

and geometry of the perfect racing line...

And again... Thanks to Gary at thegarageblog.com for the awesome pics!

We finished off the segment demonstrating the Brachistochrone theory with two separate ramps and some hot wheel cars. Sounds easy enough, until you’re on the seventh take and the word “Brachistochrone” caused Alan to go into a series of tongue twisting mishaps that had myself and the girls giggling. Who said show business was easy?

Bah-b-b-b-brachistochrone Theory!

Stay tuned for the segment to be aired on the Discovery Channel later this year – follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates!

Alan Nursall with Team SGR

Team Sweetie Girl Racing kicking butt with Alan Nursall