On Oct. 23, Seymour High School’s Alternative Energy Engineering III class and Electrathon Car Club participated in the annual fall Electrathon race at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, taking first and second place in the event’s classic division.
Schools from all over New England participated in the race showing off their abilities to design and build an electric vehicle. The vehicles themselves are quite a feat of engineering, design, fabrication, speed, and maneuverability.
This year Seymour High School raced both of their custom race cars that were designed, engineered and fabricated by the students. The number 422 race car was driven by Angel Borrero and Sean Scanlon, both seniors of SHS.
The newest race car, number 426, was driven by rookie Mike Weston and Paige Holmes. This was Seymour High School’s sixth appearance at the Lime Rock Park Electrathon race. There were many long hours of preparation and training to get the cars ready for the race.
Race day started at 7:10 a.m. when the team arrived at Lime Rock Racetrack. The cars were unpacked from the trailers and the pit-crew prepared them for the first race. This fall there were around 30 different cars built by colleges and high schools from all around New England. Both of Seymour’s cars passed through all seven inspection tests; the inspection included electrical, stability, and sizing (weight of driver and ballasts).
After inspection, the pit crews put the practice batteries in the cars and ran a few practice laps to get familiar with the track. Once the practice laps were completed, the drivers prepared for the first heat.
The first heat began at 11 a.m., and Seymour’s 426 car was running quite well against the competitive field of veteran teams. This year we had no mechanical or electrical breakdowns with either vehicle. Car 426 completed 50 laps during the full hour of racing.
The second race began around noon, which car 422 was participating in. During this heat, car 422 was running quite well, completing lap times which were in contention for a podium finish.
This year, both cars raced in the classic or expert division racing class. After a long tiring process of blood, sweat, and tears, tireless hours of work dedicated over the course of the past four years, the students of Seymour High School finished this year’s race achieving first and second place in the classic division, beating out many veteran teams. It was quite the impressive feat for Seymour’s Electrathon program.
This event was an incredible display of innovation and creativity. Teams applied engineering, physics, electrical knowledge, fabrication, manufacturing, and mechanical skills to create the electric vehicles.
Students will now review the race day events and will begin to collaborate new ideas and techniques for a brand new car that the Alternative Energy Engineering III class and the Car Club will be building for the May 2016 spring race.
The overwhelming support from the students’ families have been a great motivator for the students involved. The Seymour business community has generously supported the students in this journey to accomplish their educational goals. Support from Zois Pizza, Tire Shak, Fritz’s Snack Bar, Andie’s Bounce Barn, Hot Grill n Pizza, and Sikorsky Financial Credit Union has made quite the difference in this program.
This team building event has continued to make drastic improvements in many students’ academic performances and overall attitude towards learning.
All current materials and equipment were purchased through the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Innovation Grant which is funded via the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.
If anyone would like further information about the program or information about how they can assist the program, please contact Assistant Principal Paul Lucke at 203 – 888-2561 Ext. 1100.
The writer is a Seymour High School student.
