Mater Dei wins second straight gas mileage contest at IRP (cars get over 1000+ mpg)

WTHR 13 Eyewitness News ^ | Tuesday April 25th, 2006

[ajolympian2004]

Other on-line stories on this event -

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060424/LOCAL/60424048/-1/rss

[RightWhale]

If there were a headwind of 10 mph would this creation get any miles at all?

[MarkeyD]

But where did Reitz place (Mater Dei cross town rival, where I went to school)?

[ajolympian2004]

If there were a headwind of 10 mph would this creation get any miles at all?

Who knows???

What I take from this story is that our high school students are busy tackling the problem of America's dependency on foreign oil. Maybe they'll apply their learned knowledge into producing a very fuel efficient ethanol based vehicle. God knows that our country can produce more than enough corn for to make a significant dent in the amopunt of oil we import from the Middle East.

[GSlob]

"If there were a headwind of 10 mph would this creation get any miles at all?"
yes, a bit less than 10mph in the direction of the wind, unless they tack.

[MichiganConservative]

Those look practical for a family of 4 or 6.

[sgtbono2002]

They make ten laps at 15 mph and then mathematically figure gas mileage. They dont really travel 1100 Miles.

At this rate it would take 3 days to run the Indianapolis 500 if it werent stopped for wrecks and caution flags.

Pretty sure they stay close to the line at the bottom of the track.Hitting the wall at 15mph could be dangerous.

[Lekker 1]

While American Universities continue with the "gee-whiz" games, other countries are developing vehicles for the real consumer.

[MichiganConservative]

Do they comply with federal crash regulations?

[Lekker 1]

Sorry, I just realized it was a bunch of teenagers. This certainly beats getting stoned and playing vidoe games. Good job.

[ajolympian2004]

These are high school students...

[Lekker 1]

I am just jealous I wasn't able to participate in something like this in High School.

[Lokibob]

"If there were a headwind of 10 mph would this creation get any miles at all?"

 

Pointless question because:

a-  It is a demo of the technology.

b-  The question is counterproductive.

c-  It was never intended to be sold.

d-  Wind loading was not in the rules.

e-  Most importantly, high school kids did it.

 

Why denigrate this super accomplishment?

[RightWhale]

Would it?

[Rodney King]

The question is counterproductive.

I've heard that one before. Usually from government officials.

[Right Wing Assault]

Hey, it's great seeing kids use their heads, make things, and compete with each other. Time we bring that stuff back.

[Mr. Lucky]

The cars were on a .686 mile oval racetrack. Presumably the headwind on one stretch became a tail wind on the opposing stretch.

[thackney]

God knows that our country can produce more than enough corn for to make a significant dent in the amopunt of oil we import from the Middle East.

Really? Do you know how much corn it would take and how much land that corn needs to grow? What do you consider a "significant dent"?

[Hodar]

Students submitted 49 cars in the competition, each one powered by a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine.

Ok, I'll bite. Other than making a light weight and aerodynamic body, with the smallest and lightest student the school can provide; what did the students do? I mean, if they used ultra-sonics to help vaporize fuel, that would be one thing; but the article was poorly written in telling what was tried, and what worked. Solar power assist? Fly-wheel for energy storage, or just running the chain-saw motor on a really lean mixture?

[thackney]

Stock Class Winner Mater Dei High School, Evansville, IN

Unlimited Class Winner, William Henry Harrison High School, Lafayette, IN