{"id":3024,"date":"2016-10-24T08:28:48","date_gmt":"2016-10-24T12:28:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/electrathonoftampabay.org\/www\/?p=3024"},"modified":"2016-12-19T08:38:39","modified_gmt":"2016-12-19T12:38:39","slug":"tampa-bay-tech-titan-120","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/electrathonoftampabay.org\/www\/?p=3024","title":{"rendered":"Tampa Bay Tech – Titan 120"},"content":{"rendered":"

tbt-race<\/a><\/p>\n

The second race of the season is in the books.<\/p>\n

The usual suspects were present for the races. We want welcome back the team from HCC for their first race since early last season and Tampa Bay Tech High School for hosting the race.<\/p>\n

The conditions were good with cool temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The course was smooth and fast, with some cars hitting speeds in the mid 30s on the long straights.<\/p>\n

In the experimental battery class the 08 and 72 cars battled it out during both races with Pony in the\u00a008 beating Drew in the 72 when his batteries went down early in both races.\u00a0The 72 car is new this season and Drew is working out the bugs.<\/p>\n

In the first race the big excitement was the HCC car, with a new driver, blowing a tire on the drive wheel causing a Red Flag on the track when it went sideways and stalled. The driver did what most people do when driving. Hitting the brakes when a tire blows is never a good idea. The car got sideways and traded paint with the 08 car which escaped\u00a0unharmed.\u00a0The HCC car tore up the\u00a0front end\u00a0of the nose cone and had to withdraw as the damage caused the driver\u2019s feet to have no protection.<\/p>\n

A BIG SHOUT OUT to recognize the Middleton Team for jumping in to help the HCC two person team fix the\u00a0car.\u00a0When they were done the car looked fine but could not pass the safety inspection.\u00a0The Middleton Team exhibited a good example of sportsmanship,\u00a0one of the many such acts\u00a0at our Electrathon Races. Before the races and during the break between the first and second races, teams were working on their\u00a0cars and helping other teams with their car(s).\u00a0One of the teams gave another team a new tire and inner tubes to help get them up and running.<\/p>\n

During the second race that attention to detail monster showed up twice.\u00a0The 133 car from Middleton, which was going real well and racking up the laps, lost power and had to pit.\u00a0That Attention to Detail got them.\u00a0A cable on one of the batteries\u00a0came off.\u00a0A lose bolt\u00a0caused the problem and the pit crew was slow repairing the problem.\u00a0The car lost multiple laps and missed out on 2nd place in that race by seconds. Then there was the 365 car from Middleton.\u00a0The one that\u00a0sported a green and yellow paint job that looks like a yellow beaked Oregon\u00a0Duck.\u00a0It spent the first part of the second race drafting the 133 car\u00a0until the car took an unplanned pit, stopping up against the Brandon High School team trailer breaking its beak. The 365 car had a minor problem with the steering.\u00a0The steering wheel weld to the steering shaft broke.\u00a0Welds are the one thing that a safety inspection might not find, especially if the weld is not a smooth clean weld.<\/p>\n

Thoughts from the Pits: <\/strong>Electrathon America Design and Safety rules allow a partial\u00a0frame when the car has a full body over the frame.\u00a0With the HCC and the Duck car both receiving front end damage and\u00a0with no injury to the drivers the cars could not continue.\u00a0The cars conformed to the safety rules and everything worked out.<\/p>\n

ALL TEAMS<\/strong> should take a close look at their cars with the thought, would it be a good idea to ADD<\/strong> an additional piece to the frame.\u00a0Look at the area where the driver\u2019s feet rest.\u00a0Then ask WHAT IF.\u00a0 Is there a frame component that\u00a0protects the driver\u2019s feet in the event of a front end crash, even with a full body over the frame?<\/p>\n

Idea for the pit crews:\u00a0<\/strong> How many different size nuts and bolt are there on the car?\u00a0 The fewer sizes the fewer tools needed to make an adjustment, service or repair.\u00a0You can have a small GO BAG<\/strong> with what you need to make a QUICK Repair\/Pit Stop. Think Batteries, Steering, Wheels\/Tires.<\/p>\n

Results:<\/strong><\/p>\n

High School Class: Middleton 80 – 1st<\/sup> place, Middleton 133 – 2nd<\/sup> place, Brandon 14 – 3rd<\/sup> place, Brandon 9 – 4th<\/sup> place,\u00a0 Middleton 365 – 5th<\/sup> place<\/p>\n

Open Class: Tiger Racing 4 – 1st<\/sup> place, HCC 13\u00a0– 2nd<\/sup> place<\/p>\n

Experimental Battery Class:\u00a0Electrocutioners 8 – 1st<\/sup> place, Electrocutioners 72 – 2nd<\/sup> place<\/p>\n

We want to welcome Plant High School, from South Tampa, to the Electrathon of Tampa Bay Family.\u00a0They picked up one of our loaner cars and will be working feverishly to get it ready to race.\u00a0Hope to see them on the track in December at Lennard High School.<\/p>\n

The next race is on the Famous Middleton High School course the first Saturday in November. We will be on the\u00a0BIG parking lot. It is a long course with all the turns and long straights.<\/p>\n

See you in November<\/p>\n

Vic Nieves<\/p>\n