PVSS Accepts Car Challenge

Pleasant Valley Secondary are going to be designing a car – a pedal car that is!

PVSS was selected to participate in the 2025 Automotive Retailers Association (ARA) Pedal Car Challenge. The program offers students the opportunity to design, modify, and paint a pedal car (human-powered toy car).This challenge is an innovative event powered by the ARA through its AutoCareersBC program. The goal of this province-wide event is to encourage youth to consider the automotive industry as a viable career choice.

In 2024, there were seven participating schools in B.C. that have been given an antique pedal car (a human-powered toy car), to design, modify, and paint. The students have also been provided with mentorship and guidance from the ARA’s industry partners (BASF, Color Compass Corporation, Craftsman Collision, and Carstar).

It is intended that this opportunity to design and manufacture a toy pedal car will help students learn the fundamentals of vehicle design and manufacturing while broadening their understanding of the industry and perhaps spark an interest in a career in the automotive industry.

PVSS Trades teacher Peter Tujik explains that Dejla Sabanac with ARA BC, as well as the corporate sponsor BASF, represented by Tim Birliz, recently made a presentation to his metalwork class.

They invited them to take part in the challenge and left them with a Speedway Motors pedal car kit to customize and complete by the end of April.

Tujik explained that the custom metalwork will be completed at the school and then participating students will complete the final painting during a day long field trip to Armstrong Collision.

“It’s a very aggressive deadline to meet with Spring Break coming up soon, but my team is up for the challenge,” comments Tujik.

The finished pedal cars will be auctioned off with proceeds going towards scholarships for students pursuing education in Automotive trades.

More information can be found at Pedal Car Challenge – Auto Careers BC