From wire cars to architecture: How a Northern Cape childhood pastime is inspiring UFS students

In the small Northern Cape town of Philipstown, a simple childhood pastime has blossomed into an annual wire car racing event, inspiring creativity among UFS architecture students. Situated 230 kilometers west of Kimberley, Philipstown hosts the Philipstown Wire Car Grand Prix, where children build and race their own wire cars. The initiative was born in 2010 when local resident Kay Fourie observed children creating and playing with wire cars, recognizing its potential to keep young people engaged and away from crime.

She noted that in a community with limited recreational opportunities, the activity provided children with constructive focus and kept them away from trouble. Fourie emphasized that the town's poverty and lack of activities made this pastime particularly valuable, as it gave children something productive to do.

The Philipstown Wire Car Grand Prix has since expanded beyond the town, finding a new home at the University of the Free State (UFS). An unexpected connection was formed when Fourie met UFS Architecture lecturer David van der Merwe. Van der Merwe, initially unconnected to wire cars, saw the project as an opportunity to challenge architecture students to think creatively and work with their hands.

He introduced wire car building as part of his curriculum, and the students embraced the challenge by constructing wire cars to send to Philipstown for the local children. The students are also scheduled to visit the town in September to meet the young creators and experience the project firsthand.

The impact of this project extends far beyond Philipstown. The story of the wire cars has been featured in an award-winning documentary and a game, and even led to the creation of an F1 wire-car prototype sent to Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton. This simple idea has connected a rural Northern Cape community with university students, promoting hands-on creativity and demonstrating how innovation can arise from unexpected sources.

For Philipstown, the wire cars have put the town on the map, while for UFS students, they have offered an unconventional lesson in creativity, reminding them that innovation can begin with wire, imagination, and a child at play.