Grand Challenge Race shows off electric vehicles at Mid-Ohio
LEXINGTON ― North Central State College engineering technology students and area high school students raced electric vehicles they designed Tuesday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Race participants didn’t use the world-renowned race track but instead competed on a course set up in a large parking area.
This was the 5th annual Grand Challenge Race and the first year the students raced at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
There was a crowd of spectators, including parents. Race officials were stationed along the course. All that was missing from the racing event was the traditional roar of engines as these electric-powered vehicles quietly passed by the crowd.
Electric vehicle races, the main event at the fifth annual Grand Challenge Race, were held from 9 to 10 a.m. at the 7721 Steam Corners Road course.
The students didn't seem to mind the rain or the cold temperatures.
5 high school students competed on all-girls team
The only all-girls College-NOW team included five area high school students: Haley Lefever of Ashland; Madison Carns of Lexington; Ava Neidermier of Galion; Mikayla Blankenship of Upper Sandusky, and Hailey Morris of Lexington.
Before the race, the girls said designing and building the electric vehicle was fun and at times challenging.
They spray painted the PVC pipes on their electric vehicle bright pink.
The female racers said the vehicle will stay charged an hour.
Nine electric vehicles were in the main race which started off the morning in cold rain; with only a few vehicles making laps on the course at a time in timed heats.
The girls’ only concern was a rear tire which was leaking air.
They all said they weren’t afraid of the course as they are all good drivers off the track.
The students spent the day displaying and racing their own design of electric, autonomous and experimental vehicles.
Austin Johns, 23, of Bucyrus, was excited for the race to begin.
A traditional NSCS student majoring in mechanical engineering technology, Johns will graduate May 12.
He said each member of his team worked on a specific part of the vehicle.
Building electric vehicles
The College-NOW Engineering Academy is a partnership between the Pioneer Career and Technology Center and North Central State College. Students enroll full-time in college, completing their junior and senior years of high school while earning both high school and college credits. At the end of each student's senior year, they receive an associate degree in applied engineering technology.
Each team has been building an electric vehicle throughout the year. They began by researching and designing the types of vehicles they might want to build — including frame, steering, braking, gearing, power and drive options — and the optimal combination to provide the best overall performance and energy efficiency.
Grayson Hinkle was over the rear subframe, Ben Davidson was in charge of the front steering. Nate Rietschlin of Shelby was in charge of the chassis.
Rietschlin said everyone worked hard on the project, which spanned 16 weeks.
Two drivers on each electric vehicle team took turns getting behind the wheel.
"The lightest two," Rietschlin said as his father Jake Rietschlin stood nearby proudly watching the event unfold.
Pushed vehicle to limits during testing
An auto mechanic at Home Town Garage in Bucyrus, Johns said he took the vehicle out and did some rigorous testing in it in the back parking lot of the NCSC Kehoe Center in Shelby.
He pushed it to the limits and said he felt it was ready for Tuesday’s race.
"When we finally got it done and ready to rock, we took it out," he said. "I was absolutely going through the corners as fast as I could. I told them if if breaks, we want it to break here and not at the race," Johns said. "It drives as good as a homemade vehicle could drive."
Partnering schools with NCSC included Edison State Community College, Mount Vernon High School, Pioneer Career & Technology Center, and St. Peter's High School.
An awards ceremony was scheduled for 1:30 to 2 p.m.
The races were still continuing at the News Journal's press deadline.
Results:
Experimental Car
38 Laps -Experimental Car:
Bryson, Jackson, Casey, Lane; PVC Electric Car Division (top 3)
35 laps - Golden Goat: Logan, Hagen, Owen
25 laps - The Sparta Motor Heads of Mansfield St Peters
20 laps - EV Hot Wheels: Robert, Owen, Daniel, Jeremy, Kaitlyn
lwhitmir@gannett.com
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Twitter: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Students race electric, autonomous and experimental vehicles
