The 11th Annual Electrathon Road Race was one of the coldest races we have ever put on. Temps were in the 40s for the start of the first race. Drivers were briefed on frost bite on the hands. Ha.

Mulberry High School, who was displaying their cars at the Expo Friday helped Charlie set out the stakes we use to put up the caution tape to mark the course. It was WAY to windy to put the tape up and had to wait till Saturday morning.

Around 430 pm on Friday Charlie and a few others started setting out the 300 traffic cones used as barriers and course layout. Saturday at Oh Dark Thirty and 39 degrees, Charlie, Rodney and Vic finished setting out the cones and finished course prep.

We were glad to see an old face return to race with us. Slam (Steve) and his new bride from the Orlando area. They are 1/3 of the Electrocutioners and he drives the 90 car powered by lithium batteries. VERY FAST CAR! He only led both races with 73 laps each and the two fastest laps of the day at 40.912 seconds and 40.738 seconds.

Another new face was the team from Plant City High School. They have been absent from racing for several years but have a new Automotive Instructor (David Kocher) as their team sponsor who is very enthusiastic. They have a great team and raced Brady’s 242 Titan car. They are repairing their loaner car (the old long nose) and building their own car. The 242 car is very fast and has raced in the open and Advanced battery classes. Plant City had two sets of new Optima Yellow Top batteries and had nothing but problems with them. In both races they had a battery go down with a bad cell and finished behind Mulberry in the High School Class. The one thing you CAN NOT change during the race is a battery. What you start with you have to finish with.

Jim Robinson of Silver Bullet Racing out of Titusville Florida had a good day right behind the Electrocutioners. He ran the first race with advanced batteries and the second with standard batteries. Jim had a problems with his lithium ion battery pack and switched to standard batteries for the second race. He had the same lap count, 70 laps, with both types of batteries.

Jim Robinson is a Master Builder of many things, from Electrathon cars to hot rods. Many of his Electrathon cars can be found at any of our races and even up North. In order to spread his knowledge of Electrathon car building we now have two copies of his JIGS that are used to lay out the frames for welding that we will use to help teams build their cars.

Rodney with Tiger Racing had a good day in the Open Class. He was experimenting with gear ratios and had a very MINOR problem in the second race when his drive wheel, that he didn’t tighten properly between races, came loose and was rubbing on the frame. A quick pitstop and he was back on the track and still finished first in the Open Class.
That OOOOPS allowed the top High School team, Mulberry High School, to beat him by one lap on total laps for the day.

Mulberry High School car 38 is in the High School Division and occasionally gives the top Open Class cars a run for their money. One thing that Mulberry High School team does, is change drivers on a pit stop half way thru the race. This give more students a chance to drive and gives them a very good core of drivers and pit crews.

The home team, USF College of Engineering, was fielding a new team for the first time this season since Sai graduated. They had problems and only made the second race. The car performed well and they should be a contender in the Advanced Battery Class soon.

Most of the HCC team appeared to be new members for this race day. They were late starting the first race but had a good showing overall with their older design car. We will be working with them on using one of the JIGS to build a new car for their team.

A big Shout Out to all the teams who helped with turning the track back into a LARGE parking lot. The races were over at 2:00 P.M. and we were ready to hand out trophies at 2:35.

We had many new drivers for the races and some started out faster than others but by the midway point all were zipping around the track. No wrecks and no trading paint. Other than the CCOOOOOOOLD for Florida start of the day it was a very good day. Course Marshals and Flag People had a VERY uneventful day which is how we like it.

Next race will be March 7th at Mulberry High School on their track. Aprils race will be at the Florida Solar Energy Center on the 25th and will be our final race for the year. Charlie already has most of the schedule for next year firmed up and we are looking at a 2 day, 4 race event in the Fort Myers area on December 4th and 5th 2020. There are still out of area races at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Chambers County Alabama, and Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds Alabama before the end of the school year for any teams that wish to compete out of our area.

Vic

Electrathon of Tampa Bay / Electrathon of Florida had a “JIGGY” weekend build. Todd, Rodney, Jim and Charlie built two Electrathon frame jigs, one for ETO and the other for Rodney. This makes two frame jigs that ETO has for our training of team sponsors on how to construct an Electrathon.We also constructed additional jigs for making other components that attach to the frame. We hope that our next team sponsor training will allow us to build three Electrathon frames for teams to purchase and complete.Todd Thuma of Mulberry High School used one of our sprocket jigs to weld his two front wheel assemblies for the new car that they are building at their school.

We want to thank the Best Western in Titusville for all of their support and room accommodation’s when we conduct our trainings in their area. Great hotel and wonderful staff.

We hope to see everyone at our next event, February 21st, we will have our cars on display at the USF Engineering Expo in Tampa and then we take over their parking lot on Saturday, February 22nd for our two Electrathon Races. Our first race starts at 10am, and our second race starts at 1pm. Bring the entire family for this FREE, FUN FILLED EVENT

Our next event will be held in conjunction with the University of South Florida IEEE Engineering Expo located at 3824 USF Alumni Drive, Tampa FL 33620.

On Friday, February 21, 2020, we will have our Electrathon cars on display at the Engineering Expo to show students from various counties and answer any questions they may have concerning the design, build and components of an Electrathon car. This Expo draws a large number of students each year to show new ideas. For more information go to: expo.eng.usf.edu

On Saturday, February 22, 2020, Electrathon Cars hit the parking lot for two 1 hour races. This is one of our original venues for Electrathon Racing in Tampa Bay. The road course is very challenging for drivers and their team cars. The first race starts at 10am and the second race starts at 1pm.

On Friday, we will do a partial set up of the safety barrier around the course and then around 5pm the cones will be delivered, (Thank You Bob’s Barricades) to set up the actual road course.

It would be nice to see some of our North Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana Electrathon Teams at this race.

On January 24, 25, 2020, six team sponsors worked with instructors the entire weekend to build two Electrathon car frames. When Sunday evening came around, two frames needed some final welding before they were ready for a team. We thank our sponsor for the funds to hold our second training seminar. We will be selling these frames and others we build at future trainings so that the training seminars are self supportive so that we can continue to train others.

The first race of the new year got off to a fast start, a few surprises and some of the same o same o.
Since our first race was just after the start of the second semester for our colleges and high schools along with the MLK Holiday Parades we had some no shows but still had a good day of racing.

The races were held along with a Robotics competition hosted by Wharton High School Sponsor Chris Hart. Many of the schools in the competition were impressed and very interested in the Electrathon cars. They gave us their contact information so we can meet with them in the near future.

Plant City High School, the New Old team, was represented by David Kocher, the Auto Tech teacher. He is working on putting together a team using one of our loaner cars. The long nose car donated by the Electrocutioners. He drove the 242 car of the Titan Racing Team. Brady was not able to be at the races but his car was. He assured us it was ready to go but first we had to fix the brakes and work on the batteries. David got some first hand experience in a competitive car right up till the time the batteries died in each race.

In the first race Pro EV car 39 took off like a bat and was leading the field till just before the end of the race when he raced the tires right off of his car. He had a tire shred, losing pieces along the way and he had to withdraw. He still took 1st Place overall in the Advanced Battery Class. Cliffs car uses 16″ tires, the manufacturer has stopped making them so he and the Mulberry team, who also uses 16″ tires, are in a bind to find a new source of 16″ high pressure tires.

Tiger Racing car 4, (Rodney Schreck) in the Open Class was working with a motor he had rebuilt and it looks like he got it right since he took his 1st Place overall in the Open Class.

Mulberry High School car 38 had a good day, taking 1st Place overall in the High School Class. They did have a few pit stops but kept up their usual fast pace. Team Sponsor Todd Thuma and his team had a good day although Todd was way under the weather. Get well soon Todd.

Our next race is a BIG ONE, we have our race in conjunction with the USF Engineering Expo. On February 21, 2020 School District Teams and businesses from all over the State of Florida will display their inventions, works and trinkets in the all day event. On the second day of the USF Engineering Expo (February 22, 2020) we take over the entire parking lot at the College of Engineering. This will be our most challenging course and should have our biggest and most competitive field.

So get those batteries charged up and those tires and wheels ready to go and we will see you there.

Vic

We hope everyone had a great Holiday and a Safe New Years

Our next race will be held on January 18, 2020 at Wharton High School located at 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa FL 33647. This will be a road course for our teams and the first race in 2020.

We will do a partial set up on Friday, January 17, 2020 around 4 P.M. and finish the set up the next morning when we arrive around 630 A.M.

Hope to see everyone there to kick off 2020 with a great race.

Charlie

Once again like our Lee County Florida race, the weather could not make up its mind what to do. During the week the rain chances kept changing. When we started arriving on Saturday, December 14th at Brandon High School it was pouring and the winds were kicking up. By 715 the rain let up and things started to look better for our Dash Race Day.

We decided that since the weather was showing more bands of rain, we would not bring out the electronics and scoring system. We reverted back to our old school ways when Ken Fiallos had a line of score keepers marking down each lap that a team made. It was much easier since we only had seven cars confirmed for the day’s event.

Our Dash Race day is held once during our nine month race season. This is the race where teams are permitted to safely drive as fast as their car and driver are comfortable with until their batteries die or the maximum time limit of twenty minutes.

We want to Thank Brandon High School Administration, Team Sponsor Timothy Ruman and his team for allowing us to be at their facilities for our Annual Dash Race. They did a great job getting things organized and made sure the event was successful.

Since we only had seven cars competing in today’s event, we all agreed to adjust the schedule for the day and have everyone on the track at the same time.

Teams lined up at 945 for the first race, our open class teams were challenged in the first race. HCC car 30 had a few last minute things to finish on their car that took longer than expected leaving them in the pits the entire first race. Team Titans car 242 came out strong in the first race but the batteries died after nine laps sending them to the pits until the next race.

High School Class – Mulberry car 38 did well with 34 laps in the twenty minute race followed by Brooks DeBartolo car 55 with 26 laps.

Advanced Battery Class – We had three teams in the advanced battery class; two of them leaving the open class lead acid batteries in the pits. That’s right; Silver Bullet car 94 had a great showing with lithium batteries with 39 laps and Tiger Racing car 4 using lithium had 40 laps. The fast runner in lithium batteries was Pro EV car 39 with 44 laps the first race.

While the teams charged up their batteries and made adjustments to their cars, our team sponsors and board members went at it on the track for twenty minutes. Mulberry High School sponsor Todd Thuma came in 1st Place with 38 laps, Race Steward/Board Member Mike Frederick completed 37 laps for 2nd Place and
HCC Sponsor Alex Ambrioso completed 30 laps for a 3rd Place finish

In the second team race the Advanced Battery Class was screaming around the track as they went past the scoring area. Pro EV car 39 completed 47 laps followed by Silver Bullet car 94 with 42 laps and Tiger Racing car 4 completed 39 laps. In the Open Class HCC car 30 dominated the track with 27 laps over the 1 lap that the Titans car 242 completed. In the High School class Mulberry car 38 completed 33 laps defeating Brooks DeBartolo and car issues with only 1 lap.

At the end of the day, the laps were counted for our overall winners for each class.
Mulberry HS came in 1st Place with 67 laps and Brooks DeBartolo came in 2nd with 27 laps.

Open Class – HCC car 30 completed 27 laps for a 1st Place finish and Titans car 242 finished in 2nd Place with 15 laps.

Advanced Battery Class Pro EV car 39 did a total of 91 laps for a 1st Place finish, Silver Bullet car 94 finished in 2nd Place with 81 laps and Tiger Racing car 4 finished in 3rd Place with 79 laps.

Our next race will be held at Wharton High School on January 18, 2020. Hope to see everyone there for our first race in 2020.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay / Electrathon of Florida will hold their next race event on December 14, 2019 at Brandon High School, located at 1101 Victoria Street, Brandon Florida 33510.

This event is one of our most exciting days for our teams and members. Our ETO Teams, Sponsors / Principals and Executive Board Members will DASH around the oval track at the safest and fastest rate of speed that their car can perform for 20 minutes. Once again, the key is “SAFEST”.

Our race steward, will black flag any driver/car that is not operating with safe driving techniques or any visual concerns with the car.

Reminder: any team that has students under the age of 18 years of age, must bring or have on file with ETO the parent / minor waiver forms for the student to participate at the event.

Race Schedule December 14, 2019 Race Only

BLUE – PITS
GREEN – TOWER
RED – SCORING/REGISTRATION
PURPLE – VEHICLE PARKING

Bring the entire family to this FREE, FUN FILLED DAY of Electrathon (STEM) Racing.

Charlie

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17MxR-k9GKKDvapjVdmcUlQUoLwRYKYky?usp=sharing

Electrathon of Tampa Bay held their first race in Lee County Florida on November 9, 2019 at Buckingham Field. The course was approximately 1.1 miles per lap.

On Friday, November 8, 2019 Jen (Lee Co Parks and Recreation), Tyler (I Will Mentorship Foundation) and three of their students along with Rusty, Jim and Charlie set up the course. We want to thank each of them for all of their hard work getting the course set up and ready to go for the races.

We want to thank everyone that the Parks and Recreation Department contacted for the use of the cones, bike rails, generators, and restrooms.

Saturday morning came and it was an overcast day with strong winds. As the final preparations were made for the event, teams checked in and got their cars ready to race.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post (Deputy Orihuela) and six of the explorers were there to assist with parking and retrieving cars that broke down on the track. We thank them for their dedication and service to their community.

All week long the weather forecast showed a 10% chance for rain. Well it happened, the course was directly in the 10% area and it quickly turned into a 100% chance for rain. As the rain started around 9am, everyone sheltered in their vehicles and waited for it to clear up, checking in with each other during the breaks in the rain. Finally it cleared enough to plan for the first race to start at 1145am.

As the green flag dropped for the first race the drivers used caution to go around the track until they learned where the areas were that still had rain puddles. Archer Racing pulled off after three laps as the spray from his tires covered his canopy causing him to not feel safe enough to continue. Tiger Racing came out on the track after the green flag had dropped as he did not want to take the chance of water getting into his electrical system causing him to be out the rest of the day. USF car 48 completed only 5 laps when they had an issue that prevented them from getting back into the races.

At the end of the first race:
High Schools – Mulberry car 38 came in 1st with 20 laps and I Will Mentorship Foundation car 239 came in 2nd with 16 laps.
Open Class – Titan Racing car 242 came in 1st with 13 laps, barley beating Tiger Racing car 4 with 12 laps while Archer Racing car 321 completed 3 laps due to safety concerns.
Advanced Class – Pro EV car 39 came in 1st with 31 laps, USF car 132 had 8 laps and USF car 48 had 5 laps.

During the break, between races, Laura Heron with Homerun Concessions sold great food, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, sausages, chips, candies, and drinks. Thank you for being there and providing us with food and refreshments.

In the second race I Will Mentorship Foundation car 239 had their motor gear come off causing them to be out of the race after 1 lap. Pro EV set some great time records for this course with a 99.298 lap.

At the end of the second race
High Schools – Mulberry car 38 came in 1st with 17 laps and I Will Mentorship Foundation car 239 came in 2nd with 1 lap.
Open Class – Archer Racing car 321 came in 1st with 30 laps, Tiger Racing car 4 had 24 laps and Titans car 242 had 17 laps.
Advanced Class – Pro EV car 39 came in 1st with 34 laps and USF car 132 came in 2nd with 30 laps.

After the teams collected all of the materials from the track set up, loaded the loaned items onto a trailer for Jen with Parks and Recreation we held our awards ceremony.

Over the summer, Electrathon of Tampa Bay advertised and filed with the State of Florida Corporations for a fictitious name (aka DBA doing business as) Electrathon of Florida and were approved. This will be our last season as Electrathon of Tampa Bay as we will be promoting Electrathon Racing throughout Florida as Electrathon of Florida.

We had Ken Fiallos, Founder of Electrathon of Tampa Bay hand out the awards as this was our first trophies with our new corporate name, Electrathon of Florida.

High Schools – Mulberry car 38 1st Place overall with 37 laps (37+ miles), I Will Mentorship Foundation car 239 2nd Place overall with 17 laps (17+ miles)
Open Class – Tiger Racing car 4 1st Place overall with 36 laps (36+ miles), Archer Racing 2nd Place with 33 laps (33+ miles) and Titan Racing 3rd Place with 30 laps (30+ miles)
Advanced Class – Pro EV car 39 1st Place overall with 63 laps (63+ miles), USF car 132 2nd Place overall with 37 laps (37+ miles) and USF car 48 3rd Place with 5 laps (5+ miles).

Our next race will be held at Brandon High School on December 14, 2019.

Charlie

The next race will be held on November 9, 2019 in Lee County Florida/Ft Myers at the Lee County Mosquito Control/Buckingham Field located at 15191 Homestead Road, Lehigh Acres, Florida 33971. The entrance to the event will only be through Park Road Gate. This track is just over one mile long on an airstrip. Teams will remain in the pits when their car has an issue on the track and a pick up vehicle and trailer will bring the car into the pits for repairs. A trailer has been obtained, we still need a small vehicle/driver to pick up the car(s) and return to the pit area.

We need volunteers to assist with partial set up on Friday, November 8, 2019, between 3pm and 6pm and then final set up (tower, canopies, etc.) on Saturday, November 9, 2019, starting at 6am. The I Will Mentorship Foundation is our hosting/sponsoring team for this race. The Foundation is located just a few miles away from the track. There will be portable restrooms, a food vendor, volunteers from local organizations assisting to make this event a success.

We are working on getting some assistance with power (generator) for the pit area, teams should still bring their own power source in case this does not work out.

Hotel information was posted on our website on August 28, 2019 with little response. We can not guarantee the rates are still available at this time.

We hope to see teams from North Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana at this race event.

Charlie