https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dxt33u2u0wymhve/AACnw92VzqyLz8bTYSw9OalLa?dl=0

December 8, 2018 Race Day in Plant City dawned bright and sunny with a slight chill in the air. The parking lot at the new 1st Baptist Church was very smooth and fast.

We want to thank Pastor Steven Morris and the entire congregation at 1st Baptist Church of Plant City for allowing us to use their beautiful facility.

The Advanced Battery Class had all kinds of drama. Before the first race the USF team tried to destroy their 132 car. While they were getting the car ready there was a loud pop and a flash of light along with much smoke when they had a main power wire get pinched and ground out on the frame. After changing the lithium battery pack they were ready to go, until late in the 2nd race when their right front wheel developed a major alignment problem when the camber adjustment all of a sudden went to 45 degrees. They say it had something to do with a welding job done on that part of the car.

It was good to see Drew and Pony of the Electrocutioners and the 72 car back on the track. Drew drove both races while Pony waited to be on call as pit crew. She was very bored during the races until late in the 2nd race when the 72 car started to have body panel problems and she jumped into action with the indispensable roll of duct tape.

Cliff and James with Pro EV showed up with the longest trailer I have seen not towed by a semi. They brought a generator and a fancy set of computer operated scales for teams to use to do weight and balance studies on their cars. This is very important information to have to make the cars perform at their best.

During the races it was Pro EV car 39 and USF car 48 trading 1st and 2nd places in the two races for identical lap totals of 150. USF car 48 took the overall based on time differentials: USF 2.00.38 / Pro EV 2.00.57.

In the Open Class Tiger Racing took both races.

In the High School Class it was Mulberry High School car 38 taking both races with Simmons in the 53 car not far behind.

Simmons had problems with the 35 car and was not able to start the 2nd race.

Brooks-DeBartolo, now with the second largest trailer, had problems with their 55 car and spent a lot of time in the pits. They were still able to get it on the track for both races.

Teams helping teams is on display again: Brooks-DeBartolo did some welding on the ETO loaner assigned to Mulberry High, in turn, Mulberry High will be transferring it over to George Jenkins High School so their team can be ready for the January 19, 2019 race at Wharton High School. Mulberry will be taking the ETO loaner currently assigned to George Jenkins back to their location to put it together for another team, possibly in Polk County Schools.

One of the less glamorous parts of Electrathon racing is the track set up and tear down. Charlie and Debbie spent over 3 hours setting it up but with the help of ALL the teams it was taken down and put away in 35 minutes.

FINISH
Advanced Battery Class 1st USF #48, 2nd Pro EV #39, 3rd Electrocutioners #72, 4th USF #132

Open Class Tiger Racing #4

High School Class 1st Mulberry #38, 2nd Simmons #53, 3rd Simmons #35, 4th Brooks DeBartolo #55

Some GOOD NEWS\SAD NEWS.
Good News for Fredi Beck, our Mrs. Everything at Electrathon Of Tampa Bay is retiring from the Hillsborough County School System. She will be unemployed starting the New Year.
SAD NEWS She and Tom will be moving, sometime in the future, to Indiana where they have bought a house on a lake near family. WHO retires and moves back up North? She is not gone yet and we wish her the best. We will sure miss her when she does go.

Our next race is January 19, 2019 at Wharton High School.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME THIS YEAR AT THE LONGWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE. OUR HOST, ANDREW AND PONY PROVIDED A SNACK FOR US BEFORE WE HEADED TO THE PARADE AND THEN HAD A COOKOUT WHEN WE RETURNED TO THEIR HOME. THANK YOU BOTH FOR EVERYHTING YOU DID FOR OUR TEAMS AND MEMBERS.
THE ELECTROCUTIONERS HAD THEIR TWO CARS AT THE PARADE ALONG WITH THE USF TEAM WITH BOTH CARS. USF’S NEW CAR HAD THE SPECTATORS SAYING “LOOK AT THAT ONE”.

The first ever Electrathon race in Polk County went off without a hitch. Almost, our Team Sponsor at George Jenkins (James Heuslein) got VERY sick the week of the race and was not able to host/attend, causing a situation, because a School Employee/ Sponsor had to be on campus. The race was cancelled until Charlie and Rodney visited the school on the Friday before the race. The great staff at George Jenkins (Brad Hiers, AP, Erin Crosby, Dean, and Antwan Carter, Custodian) worked with them and got the race back on track. A great BIG THANK YOU to all three of the George Jenkins Staff Members that made our first race in Polk County a success.

The track was in great shape with two LONG straights and two 180s. The campus is huge, it was a trick finding the track. I thought I was going to run out of campus before I got there. George Jenkins is a large campus and very impressive.

Our good friend from LOWES (Sponsor Rob Nolen) and Polk County School Board Member (Billy Townsend) shared the starting duties for the first race.

In the High School Class it was a battle between Mulberry High and Simmons Career Center with both schools trading First place finishes in the first and second race. Mulberry had the fastest high school lap at 45.104 second.

The Simmons #53 car took the overall in High School followed close behind by the Mulberry #38 car and Simmons #353 came in 3rd. Mulberry’s 2nd overall was outstanding considering they had a bad first race with only half the laps of the Simmons #53 car.

In the Open Class Tiger Racing (Rodney) and Silver Bullet Racing (Robinson) teamed up. Since Silver Bullet Racing seems to always be out of cars, he sells them almost as fast as he builds them, Rodney brought his old Erector Set car, the original #4 and drove it and Robinson drove Rodney’s new car #4. Robinson won the first race beating Rodney with his own car but Rodney came back the second race beating his own car driven by Robinson. Robinson took 1st Place overall and Rodney took 2nd followed by HCC in 3rd place.

In the Advance Battery Class it was the usual suspect. USF car #48 and Pro EV car #39 battling it out. Both cars were turning laps in the mid 30second range with Pro EV turning in the fastest lap of the day at 34.277seconds.

Pro EV took the first race buy 1 lap. In the second race Pro EV “drove the wheels off of that car” bit him again. Pro EV took second in the second race after having blown a drive wheel late in the race. USF #132 car was cautious the first race but came out strong in the second race beating Pro EV by 1 lap.

When the race day ended, the standing for the day were:

High School – 1st Simmons # 53 – 101 laps, 2nd Mulberry #38 – 89 laps and 3rd Simmons #353 – 87 laps.

Open – 1st Robinson Racing #94 – 137 laps, 2nd Tiger Racing #4 – 122 laps and 3rd HCC #30 – 36 laps.

Advance Battery – 1st USF #48 – 181 laps, 2nd Pro EV #39 – 168 laps and 3rd USF #132 – 131 laps.

From The Pits: Overall the cars are looking better with fewer problems during inspection. We only had one team blow up a tire in the pits. It makes a large bang when you over inflate a tire and it blows.

USF has some really good info on Advance Battery Management and Safety Protocols. If teams check the Electrathon America Handbook they list the Advance Battery options. Looks like you can equip an Electrathon race car for about HALF the cost of Yellow Tops and you only need ONE battery and a special charger, a compatible motor controller, safe securing in car and a battery management system.. You can recharge it between races and it doesn’t have to come out of the car.

The track layout for the December 8, 2018 race looks like another fast track with “strong left” / “strong right turnsas shown in red.

See you then
VIC

On December 8, 2018, we will hold our last race in 2018 before looking forward to a bigger and better 2019 with more teams and sponsors.

The Simmons Team will be our host for this race giving them the home team advantage.

The First Baptist Church of Plant City is located at 3309 James L. Redman Pkwy, Plant City, FL 33566.

Our first race will start at 10:00am/end at 11:00 am. Our second race will start at 1:00 pm/end at 2:00 pm. Awards ceremony will follow after all of the course has been cleared.

There will be a porta-potty delivered for our use while we are on site as indicated on the map. There will not be electric available for teams to charge their batteries, generators will be required, only team transport vehicle permitted in the pits, all others will park in the overflow pit parking.

The track is 1757′ long, please review the information indicated on the map as there will be one entrance into our race area for teams and spectators.

RED – COURSE

PINK – TIRES AND TAPE

BLACK – TOWER

YELLOW – TRACK BARRIOR TAPE

GREEN – REGISTRATION/SCORING

WHITE – SPECTATOR PARKING/VIEWING

BLUE – PITS

ORANGE – PORTA-POTTY

BURGUNDY/BROWN – OVERFLOW PIT PARKING

We are in a parade again this year, on December 1, 2018 Electrathon of Tampa Bay will attend the Longwood Florida Christmas Parade. If you plan to attend, please contact Fredi to obtain all of the information.

ETO will transport at least 4 cars from the Tampa area to the race as long as teams have contacted and arranged it with Fredi, cars will be returned to the school on Monday or Tuesday after the parade.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay will not have a race on November 10, 2018 due to a venue issue.

We will hold an all teams workday so teams can work together on the cars and then test them.

November 10, 2018 workday will be held at Simmons Career Ctr, 1202 West Grant, Plant City Florida from 8 am to 2 pm.

Hamburgers and Hotdogs will be provided by ETO around 11 am. Drinks and other food that you/your team wants, must be brought by you/them.

Please RSVP with Fredi or Charlie so we have enough burgers and Hotdogs.

WE HAD A GOOD TURN OUT TO INCLUDE RODNEY FROM HIALEAH FLORIDA.
TEAMS WORKED TOGETHER ON EACH OTHERS CARS, DROVE EACH OTHERS CARS AND ENJOYED THE HAMBURGERS AND HOTDOGS.
THANK YOU SIMMONS SPONSOR WILLIAM KNIGHT, HIS PRINCIPAL MR CHAZARES FOR ALLOWING US TO USE THIER FACILITY.
THANK YOU TO DEBBIE HARRISON FOR COOKING ALL THE HAMBURGERS AND HOTDOGS FOR US TO EAT.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay will hold our second race of the 2018 – 2019 season on October 27, 2018 at George Jenkins High School, located at 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland, Florida 33813. This will be our first race in Polk County.

A special thank you goes to our two Team Sponsors in Polk County, Todd Thuma from Mulberry HS and James Heuslein from G. Jenkins HS for coming on board with ETO and getting a race in their area. Mulberry HS is in their second season and G. Jenkins will be on the track at this race for the very first time. Will that give them a home advantage?

The race will be held on the bus loop located at the back of the school. The course is approximately 1700′.


Yellow – Barrier Tape
Red – Course
Black – Scoring Tower
Orange – Spectator Parking
Blue – Registration
White – Overflow Parking for Teams
Green – Pit Area

The pit area is good size but those with medium/large trailers should arrive early to have a good turn around area rather than backing into the pits from the course.

Charlie

What a great start to the 2018-2019 season. Thank You Hillsborough Community College for hosting our first race of the season. 13 cars took the green flag on the old/new track at Hillsborough Community College. Old as in we have raced on it many times. New in the fact that it was recently seal coated which made it nice and slick while reducing tire friction.
The Open Class this year is starting out a little smaller with Titan Racing moving from Open to Advanced Battery.
Tiger Racing started out the year like the end of last season, with a win. His lap times and lap counts were down due to experimenting with a new lighter weight motor. The HCC team had multiple pit stops for tires and mechanical problems.
In the Advanced Battery Class (ABC) the competition was tough. ProEV took the top spot with 219 laps with a 3rd in the first race and a 1st in the second race. In the past ProEv has had multiple problems with wheels and chains. This weekend he had it under control and had only two minor problems but had enough laps to overcome them.
The powerhouse USF teams 48 car took 1st in the first race and 3rd in the second race matching ProEv for places but falling behind on total laps due to wheel issues at the end of the second race.
The new guys in the Advance Battery Class, Titan Racing, starting his first full year in the class was plagued by multiple tire problems and finished down the standing. Maybe ProEv passed off his tire and wheel problems to Titan Racing.
In the High School Class Simmons continued where they left off last season, leading the pack. With all new drivers learning the ropes they still led all comers finishing 1 – 2 overall in the class. As good as they are their lap count was 32 laps behind the Advanced Battery Class. One of the new teams in the class, Mulberry High School from Polk County, took a strong 3rd with their BRAND NEW CAR in its first race. It is another one of Jim Robinsons designed and built cars. They might have finished higher but they kept plowing through the grass on turns and did a beautiful 180 spin out on the tight turn by the track entrance.
Glad to see Plant High School get back on the track.
The Brooks team had a good day finishing 4th. It took them almost as long to set up that monster canopy they brought as it did to run the race.
The highlight of the day was the demolition derby acrobatics of the USF team 132 car and the multiple flips coming out of the fourth turn in the second race. The new driver rode it out and walked away without any injuries. It looked like they were carrying a casket as they raced back to the pits with the car in hand to get it fixed and back on the track. That probably accounted for them not placing higher than 3rd for the day.
IN THE PITS. A shout out to the USF team for helping the Brandon High School Team with some electrical problems on one of their cars and Brooks DeBartolo for helping with rim issues. Jim Robinson had to do some warranty work on the brake system on the Mulberry car. Great service as they didn’t have to take it back to the dealership for warranty work. The cars overall looked pretty good during inspections. Ballast and ballast placement need some attention. Ballast MUST BE Bolted Down or secured with cargo straps. Like the batteries it MUST NOT come out in a crash. Duct tape, bungee cords and rubber straps and the like are NOT SAFE. Ballast problems are grounds for a Disqualification.
The RACE STEWARD is and will hand out penalty laps for racing violations. Drivers need to remember to stop and look before pulling out of the pits onto the race course. Inspectors will be keeping an eye on the cars before, during and after the races so keep up on the NEW Electrathon America Handbook. If you don’t have the new copy it can be downloaded from the Electrathon Of America website.
FINISH
Advanced Battery Class 1st ProEv car 39, 2nd USF car 48 3rd USF car 132 4th Titan Racing car 242
Open Class 1st Tiger Racing car 4, 2nd HCC car 30
High School Class 1st Simmons 53 2nd Simmons car 35 3rd Mulberry car 38 4th Brooks car 55, 5th Plant car 98 6th Brandon car 14 7th Brandon car 9
Next Race is in Lakeland at George Jenkins High School and we should see even more cars take the track for our first ever race in Polk County.
See you at the race and keep the shiny side up,

VIC

On September 13, 2018, Electrathon of Tampa Bay held our Annual All Teams Board Meeting. Election of the Executive Board was held, the Executive Board of Directors for 2018 – 2019 are:
President – Charles Harrison
Vice President – James (Jim) Truitt
Secretary – Vacant
Treasurer / Publicist – Fredi Beck
Director of Communications – Vic Nieves
Director of Events – Mike Frederick
Director of Community Outreach – Brady Weber
Board Intern – Nicodemus Brothers
Board Intern – Vacant

The majority of the members present at the September 13, 2018 meeting discussed and approved changing our race points to the following:
1st 25 points, 2nd 18 points, 3rd 15 points, 4th 12 points, 5th 10 points, 6th 8 points, 7th 6 points, 8th 4 points, 9th 2 points, 10th 1 point
ALSO a car must be on the course competing for a minimum of 10 cumulative minutes out of the total race time.

Hope to see everyone at our first race September 22, 2018 at Hillsborough Community College in Brandon Florida. On September 22, 2018 our first race is from 10 am to 11 am and our second race is from 1 pm to 2 pm with an awards ceremony to follow.

Charlie

On September 22, 2018, Electrathon of Tampa Bay will hold our first race of the 2018 – 2019 season. We will be at Hillsborough Community College located at 10451 Nancy Watkins Drive, Tampa, Florida 33619. Set up will begin at 6:30 A.M. ALL team members will be required to attend the drivers meeting before our first race of the season. The first race line up is 9:45 A.M. and the green flag will drop to start the race and race season at 10:00 A.M. The second race line up is 12:45 P.M. and the green flag will drop to start the race at 1:00 P.M. Clean up and awards will follow. Hope everyone has their cars ready to go and remember to do all of your safety checks and be knowledgeable and understand the Electrathon America Rules and Guidelines for the car, driver(s) and teams.

Yellow – Barrier, Green – Pits, Red – Course, Black – Scoring Tower

Charlie