MAINE STUDENTS NAB NATIONAL EFFICIENCY RECORD

High School team now the fastest One Horsepower racers in the country

In his first ever race, 18 year old Nathan Pickrell smashed the Electrathon National Record for High Schools, and found enough reserve energy to capture the overall record.  He covered 49.44 miles in one hour in the Mount Blue team's car.  

Mount Blue - Car

The energetic young team from the Foster Tech Center of Mt Blue High School, Farmington, ME, came to the IBM National Speed Trials with a tough challenge to beat the 44 mile record set by their classmates four years ago.  Instructor John MacDonald said: "These kids are incredible."  "In a race on on Monday they crashed one car and blew the motor in the other.  They learned some hard lessons and responded with awesome determination."

Mount Blue - Team

Teams from around the country gathered at New Hampshire International Speedway on October 28 to see how far they could push their lightweight vehicles in one hour using just 64 lbs of production lead-acid batteries.  The rules allow a wide variety of creative design, and the competition is open to everyone, however, in practice most of the competitors are school teams.  This is because the sport offers an affordable test of the imagination, containable skill levels and such as might be available in a school team, working together as a team.

IBM Electrathon - Drivers

The competition strives to foster an ethic of efficiency and promotes the development of alternative energy in transportation in compelling style.  Similar competition is promoted in the United Kingdom by GreenPower, also where the competitors are mostly school teams.

On of the founding principles of Electrathon, is that classes compete in the same race under the same rules.  In this case youthful energy triumphed over knowledge and experience as Mt. Blue won both heats of the day, with Greg Allen covering 48.43 miles in the first heat.  That distance was equalled in the second heat by Michael Lewis of Portland ME, winner of the Open Class.  His Electrolite team mate, Fred Writt of Flamouth, ME, followed with 47.42 miles.  The third place Open Class was Barclay Henry at 41.37, whose Pak-Lite team drove out from Oregon with 2 cars and Chief Sealth High School, Seattle, WA, was scored third in the high school class with 39.35 miles, Alex de Kleck and Matthew York sharing the driving.

Michael Lewis (left) and Fred Writt of Team Electrolite

Fortunately, the weather stayed fine and the track was in good shape.  Many teams are anxious to return next year to try and crack the elusive 50 miles barrier in one hour.  This will be no walk in the park!

 IBM Nationals - Starting Grid

The rules are simple enough to allow a wide variety of creative designs, and although it's open to everyone, most of the competitors are school teams because the sport offers an affordable test of imagination, skill, discipline and teamwork.  While, striving to foster an ethic of efficiency, the competition promotes the development of alternative energy transportation in compelling style.

(Loudon, NH ) How far can you go in one hour with only one horsepower?

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