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Hurricane Matthew

As Hurricane Matthew approaches the State of Florida’s East Coast, Electrathon of Tampa Bay reaches out to our Teams/Supporters from Southeast Florida, Tiger Racing and Pro EV, from Central Florida, East Coast, The University of Central Florida, Palm Bay Magnet HS, Seminole State College, The Florida Solar Energy Center, Robinson and Son Racing and The Electrocutioners. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. We hope that you are safe from the effects of this hurricane. Once this hurricane has passed, please reach out any of the Executive Board to let us know that you are okay.

UPDATE 10/7/2016

We have heard from Tiger Racing, The Electrocutioners, Robinson and Son, Pro EV, University of Central Florida, and The Florida Solar Energy Center. They have all made it through the hurricane Matthew. It was wonderful to hear from our teams. We have not heard from Palm Bay Magnet HS or Seminole State College. Hope that they will reach out to us sometime today to let us know they are okay.

This afternoon we heard from Palm Bay Magnet High School and they are okay.

September 24, 2016 Races at HCC

Visit the Photo Album for HCC Race at: (Copy and paste link into Browser)https://www.flickr.com/photos/132647601@N06/albums/72157673849750930

Electrathon of Tampa Bay kicked off the 2016-2017 Electrathon and Junior Solar Sprint Race Season on September 24, 2016 at Hillsborough Community College in Brandon Florida. The college was a great host, providing us with snacks and refreshments during the day and a great race course for our teams to compete. We thank everyone that was involved in the scheduling for this race.

We had seven cars representing three high school teams, two cars/teams representing our college/open, and three cars/two teams representing experimental battery. ETO implemented team members (pit crew) wearing safety vests when responding to a down car so drivers can see them on the course. We asked teams to join us at the Longwood Parade on December 3, 2016, driving their car or walking the parade route handing out flyers to promote Electrathon Racing. ETO encouraged teams to plan for the races in Pensacola Florida (Five Flags Speedway), Leeds Alabama (Barber Motor Sports), and Quitman Georgia (Brooks HS, Run for the Peaches). ETO will transport four cars to each of these races in the ETO trailer. We handed out a suggested team structure to our high school and college teams to promote organization and team work.

The first Electrathon Race had a total of twelve cars lined up when the green flag dropped for racing. University of Central Florida had their wheel hub come apart sending a tire down the course, Pro EV with their new motor worked to get the alignment of their chain set. The high school first race results are: 1st Middleton car 80, 2nd Middleton car 365, 3rd Middleton car 133, 4th Brandon car 14, 5th Strawberry Crest car 60, 6th Brandon car 9, 7th Strawberry Crest car 30. The open first race results are: 1st Tiger Racing, 2nd University of Central Florida. The experimental battery first race results are: 1st Electrocutioners car 8, 2nd Electrocutioners car 72, 3rd Pro EV car 39.

The Junior Solar Sprint Races were held between the Electrathon races. Mike Wilson and Don Hasselwood prepared the course; a number of teams competed and had fun. The race results are: 1st Kayla Pagan, 2nd Jacqueline Suarez, and 3rd Jaylin Rasumoff.

The second Electrathon Race started with eleven cars as the University of Central Florida was not able to repair the damages from the loss of their wheel hub in the first race. Our second race had some excitement when Pro EV car 39 spun out in turn one and faced others cars on the track. We are proud of all of our drivers for the way they drove in both races. The high school second race results are: 1st Brandon car 14, 2nd Middleton car 365, 3rd Middleton car 80, 4th Middleton car 133, 5th Brandon car 9, 6th Strawberry Crest car 30, 7th Strawberry Crest car 60. The open second race results are: 1st Tiger Racing. The experimental battery second race results are: 1st Electrocutioners car 8, 2nd Electrocutioners car 72, 3rd Pro EV.

We had a great day of family fun and racing.

Our overall total laps, top three team winners are: High School – 1st Middleton car 365, 2nd Brandon car 14, 3rd Middleton car 80. Open/College – 1st Tiger Racing car 4, 2nd University of Central Florida car 823. Experimental Battery – 1st Electrocutioners car 8, 2nd Electrocutioners car 72, 3rd Pro EV.

Mark your calendars for our next race, October 22, 2016 at Tampa Bay Technical High School, 6410 Orient Road, Tampa Florida 33610.

Video by Strawberry Crest HS at HCC in Brandon, Florida

Hillsborough Community College – September 24, 2016

Welcome Electrathon Racing Teams, our first race of the season will be held at Hillsborough Community College, located at 10414 East Columbus Drive, Tampa Florida 33619. The race day schedule will be the same as last season with the exception of this race. There will be a mandatory ETO orientation conducted for everyone from 730am to 830am. We have new teams, new cars, new drivers, new safety protocols and team structure suggestions.

The yellow is our safety barrier, red is our course, black is our scoring tower and green will be the pit area.

2016-hcc

This year ETO will assist high school and college teams in attending races in Pensacola Florida (Five Flags Speedway), Quitman Georgia (Run for the Peaches), and Leeds Alabama (Barber Motor Sports) by transporting team cars and some equipment in our ETO trailer. This will be done on a first come basis; teams should send a written reservation to Fredi Beck (Treasurer/Publicist). Our ETO trailer will hold 3 or 4 cars and equipment.

Welcome to 2016 – 2017 Racing

On August 8, 2016 we held our Annual Team Board Meeting at Cracker Barrel in Seffner Florida. We reached many of our Business Plan Goals for 2015 – 2016 and feel we had a great race season.

As we kick off the race season for 2016 – 2017 our Race Schedule in almost done and looks to be a good one. We are trying to combine our races with other site based events so we attract a larger group of spectators. This year we will have new teams, new cars, new drivers, new safety protocols, team structure suggestions. At our first race of the season ETO will hold a 1 hours (730-830) mandatory orientation for everyone.

This year ETO will assist teams in attending races in Pensacola (Five Flags Speedway), Quitman GA (Run for the Peaches), and Alabama (Barber Motor Sports) by transporting team cars and some equipment in our ETO trailer. This will be done on a first come basis; teams should send a written reservation to Charles Harrison. Our ETO trailer will hold 3 or 4 cars and equipment.

Hope to see everyone at our first race

Board Meeting – August 8, 2016

We will be holding our annual Board Meeting that consists of the Executive Board and representatives from every team (Sponsor/Team Captains/Designee) on August 8, 2016 at the Cracker Barrel located by Lazy Days RV in Seffner Florida. The meeting will start at 430p.m. come early to eat and socialize before the meeting.

2015 – 2016 Banquet

Visit the Photo Album for the awards banquet at: (Copy and paste link into Browser) https://www.flickr.com/photos/132647601@N06/sets/72157669368364175

First of all, I want to apologize for the late posting for our end of the year banquet

Charles Harrison, ETO President

We had our banquet on June 4, 2016; the food catered by Whaley’s was amazing. Fredi Beck and her ETO helpers once again hosted an excellent banquet. The guest speaker for the evening was Rodney Schreck of Tiger Racing. Rodney, an Electrathon Racer for over 20 years gave a summary of his 2015 -2016 race season. He attended all nine of our races and then traveled to Electrathon races at Barber Motor Sports in Alabama, Touchstone Energy in Beloit Kansas, Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola Florida, Sunflower Electro Rally in Scott City Kansas and Run for the Peaches in Quitman Georgia. Rodney drove over 2,000 laps this season in his Tiger Racing Electrathon car. Thank you Rodney for the insight on motors, gears and how races are held outside of our area.

Our awards for the 2015 – 2016 Electrathon Race Season

High School Class

1st Place – Simmons Career Center, Car #35

2nd Place – Tampa Bay Tech, Car #242

3rd Place – Middleton, Car #80

Open Class

1st Place – Tiger Racing, Car #4

2nd Place – University of South Florida, Car #132

3rd Place – Robinson Racing, Car #94

Experimental Class

1st Place – Electrocutioners, Car #8

2nd Place – Electrocutioners, Car #72

3rd Place – Pro EV, Car #39

Team Leader Awards

Brandon High School – Hannah Tracy

Middleton High School – Ryan Norden

Simmons Career Center – Jesus Esquivel

Tampa Bay Tech High School – Juan Jimenez

Wharton High School – Erica Winfrey

University of South Florida – Aditya Chelikani

Most Laps

1,160 laps – High School Class – Simmons Career Center, Car #35

1,368 laps – Open Class – Tiger Racing, Car #4

1,194 laps – Experimental Class – Electrocutioners, Car #8

ETO Team Advisor of the Year

Kyle Thompson – Middleton High School

ETO Sponsor of the Year

Bob Clarke, Owner, Clarke Automotive, Brandon Florida

Corporate Sponsor of the Year

Rob Nolen, Store Manager, Lowes #2282 in Valrico Florida

2015 – 2016 Race Season Banquet

The 2015 – 2016 Electrathon and Junior Solar Sprint Race Season is over; we held nine races at various locations and had a great time. We want to thank everyone that sponsored a race at their location; the site was opened for us to have a Saturday full of fun and camaraderie among our teams.

The ETO Banquet (barbecue) and Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2016 from 4:30 – 7 p.m. at the HCPS Instructional Services Center, 2920 N. 40th Street, Tampa Florida 33605. The cost is $10.00 adults/$6.00 kids under 12. Please RSVP the number in your party to fredi.beck@sdhc.k12.fl.us.capture1We want to thank our 2015 – 2016 sponsors and supporters for this race season:

  • Rob Nolen, Manager of the Valrico Lowes
  • Bob Clarke, Owner of Clarke Automotive in Brandon
  • Parrot Signs
  • Debbie Dixon, Great Florida Insurance, Lakeland Florida
  • Dan McFarland, Hillsborough County Public Schools
  • Larry Plank, Hillsborough County Public Schools
  • Cliff Rassweiler, Team Pro EV
  • Rodney Schreck, Team Tiger Racing
  • Vic Nieves, Retiree Hillsborough County Public Schools
  • Jim Robinson, Team Robinson and Son
  • Laura and Richard Epperson, Friends of ETO
  • Numerous individuals that made cash donations to support Electrathon of Tampa Bay