Welcome to the official home of Electrathon of Tampa Bay! Our vision is to contribute to the laying of a foundation for a green, vibrant, low carbon future full of possibilities and opportunities for tomorrow’s children in the Tampa Bay area. It is our mission to make this contribution by promoting Electrathon Racing and Solar Sprinting, endeavors full of technological entrepreneurial challenges and adventure.

Electrathon racing is a somewhat recent invention, first started in the 90s in Australia. It is has grown in popularity in the Northwest and New England States as well in Canada and Mexico. The relatively low cost of the Electrathon Racing has made the sport a popular activity for many colleges and technical schools although it has achieved its largest participation among high school age students world-wide. Students are actively exposed to a wide variety subjects from aerodynamics, AutoCAD, power electronics, computer control of electric vehicle propulsions systems, structural analysis, and skills directly related to technological business management.

Our Philosophy:
ETO’s Executive Committee believes that a “hands-on” approach to the education of today’s students can contribute greatly to the learning of fundamental physical principals and the building of a technical foundation. This approach has received less emphasis in the education of youth due to changing cultural influences, changes in educational expectations and opportunities and changes in technology itself. All of these changes have diminished the opportunities for basic hands on understanding of physical phenomena. Culturally today’s youth are less hands on when compared to the shade tree car and bicycle mechanics of the 50’s. Today’s students are more “connections oriented” with respect to the devices they use whereas in the 50’s they may have picked up a tool and opened up their car radio to check the vacuum tubes inside. Further compounding this move away from hands on learning is that today’s education system has shifted more to training for service oriented occupations as manufacturing has disappeared from America’s shores further depressing the gaining of knowledge through hands on experience. Lastly technology has become software based for example to carry out such basic functions such as braking or adjusting fuel/air mixture thus making the acquisition of basic principles somewhat less accessible through hands on. We believe, as Educators and Engineers that the providing of opportunities through “the hands on application of science and engineering knowledge in a competitive technical arena” can strengthen students in their preparation for tomorrow’s jobs in transportation and engineering. Through outreach, partnerships and support of K12 and Community College Clubs throughout the (8) county area ETO’s Engineering and Educational staff will make a lasting difference in the lives of members and they will in turn impact their communities in a positive way.

Please support Electrathon of Tampa Bay by becoming a member. Your membership identifies you with promoting engineering education and strengthening America’s Future. You will be featured on our website and at our Races. Make a donation of any amount for your membership to help support our teams.

Donation Levels:
$1-$40 Basic Believer
$41-$80 Green Pioneer
$81-$120+ Electric Vanguard

Race Stats for Simmons and Year to Date

The new guys on the block put on a good show at the race on their home track.  We want to thank the staff of Simmons for their help and support.  The food booth was a popular place on race day.  The track was tight and rough with lots of turns but teams were turning lap at 30-35 sec. intervals.

In the High School class there were lots of ups and downs during the two races.  Simmons won the first race with 107 lap with the Middleton 80 car second with 96 laps.  The Middleton 133 car, the girls team, with new batteries came in 3rd with 93 laps, after they lost laps when the ballast fell out of the car and had to be reinstalled.  TBT was 4th with 85 laps after loosing laps with a blown tire.

In the second race Simmons broke a chain and lost a lot of laps before they could get it running again.  TBT had problems in the second race with more blown tires and wheel problems.  That left the two Middleton cars battling for the lead.   The girls team in the 133 car kept up a fast and steady pace and won the second race by 4 laps over the Middleton boys in the 80 car.

The Middleton girls team beat out the Middleton boys team by 1 lap after 2 hours of racing to take the overall 1st place in the High School Class.  Both cars ran steady and fast races.

In the Open Class in the first race it was Tiger Racing against the field.  After 1 hour of racing and 119 laps it was  Robinson Racings 13 car by .233 sec. over Tiger Racing  with Robinsons 94 car 3rd with 116 laps and USF 4th with 82 laps.  After the races were over Robinson Racings 13 car had holes rubbed in the nose cone and Jim Jr. had scuff marks on his shoes.  That was how rough the course was.

In the second race Robinson Racing had the 94 car withdraw early in the race and the 13 car blew a tire late in the race to drop to third and USF improved to 2nd place with 122 laps just 2 laps behind Tiger Racing in the 4 car with 124 laps.

In the Experimental Battery Class there was a lot going on with the Electrocutioners and ProEV battling hard over both races.  The surprise of the day was the Electrocutioners new 72 car.  Drew came up with an actual Go-Kart  running on Lithium Ion batteries.

In the 1st race the 72 car racked up 111 laps for a strong 3rd in its first ever race.  The Electrocutioners 08 car battled the ProEv 39 car for a one lap win.  Towards the end of the 1st race the 08 car, with 128 laps,  and the ProEv 39 car, with 127 laps got together on the front straight and the 39 car lost its canopy and messed up a tire.

In the second race the 72 car was going like a bat and put in 126 laps for a 1st place.  Cliff in the 39 car had problems with his canopy, too much duct tape holding it together.  Then he had problems with his rear drive wheel and other stuff and had to withdraw.

Pony driving the Electrocutioners 08 car held off Drew in the 72 car for 1st place overall in the EX Battery class by 1 lap.

Girl Power came on strong with Overall 1st place finishes in the High School and EX Battery classes.

Blown tires, locked up drive wheels, busted chains, mirrors, loose ballast, to much duct tape and other gremlins caused much consternation in the ranks, standings and order of finish.

The next race is in Jan. at Wharton HS.  That will be the last tune up before our biggest race of the year at the USF ENGINEERING EXPO.  We should see some new out of town cars with upward of 20 cars total and a large crowd of spectators over the two days.

I would like to wish every one a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and great end of the year.  Have a great time and be safe.  See you all rested and ready to go for the second half of the Electrathon Of Tampa Bay season.

Vic

We want to thank Manager Rob Nolen and the Lowes Team in Valrico (1515 E. Brandon Blvd) for all of their support to Electrathon Racing. Over the past few months they have donated all of our yellow caution tape for our races and this month they donated a 6′ folding table for our scoring system computer and monitor. Please support them by driving to their store in Valrico for all of your home furnishing needs. If you get a chance to see Rob walking around in the store, make sure to introduce yourself and thank him personally for their support to Electrathon of Tampa Bay.

REMINDER

Our next race is this Saturday, December 12, 2015 at Simmons Career Center in Plant City Florida. Simmons Team Sponsor Denis Bouchard has arranged for good food and a great course. Bring the entire family for a free fun day of racing.

Thank Fredi for getting this together.

Our next race is rapidly approaching us along with the end of the year. With the holidays, special events and family time our dedicated teams, drivers and volunteers will be at the last race of 2015.

Simmons Career Center, Team Sponsor Denis Bouchard has arranged for homemade barbecue and the sides for the race. Cost will be reasonable for portions of food. Please support this new team by purchasing your lunch at the event.

The first cool race day of the year is in the books.

12 cars took the green flag for both races on the 1/4 mile track with some of the closest finishes ever in the series.

Racing on a 1/4 mile track allowed the teams to really see how the cars would do in a true time trial setting. Aerodynamics, gear ratios, battery life/conservation, steady speed and steering all come into play.  Much more so than on a road course where the cars are constantly slowing down and speeding up.  In the High School class the winner was driving a car with the aerodynamics of a brick and was 26 laps behind the Open Class winner and 32 laps behind the EX battery winner.  All but the EX battery winner were using the same type batteries.  AERODYNAMICS was a BIG factor.

In the 1st race of the High School Class, the Simmons #60 car and the Middleton #80 car had the same lap count with 80 laps on the 1/4 mile track.  Simmons took 1st by mere seconds.  In the second race Simmons beat Middleton again, this time by 2 laps.  TBT was late starting the race when they had a brake lock up on the way to the start line otherwise they would have been in the mix for 1st.

In the second race Simmons and TBT went at it with both cars finishing with 83 laps each.  Simmons took 1st again this time by 32 sec.

In the Open Class USF, driving their new car for the second race, missed 3rd place by 5 sec. to Rodney in the Tiger Racing #4 car.

In the first Open Class race, 1st and 2nd had a 2 sec. gap.  The Robinson Racing #13 and #94 cars drafted each other  for most of the race with the dad, in the 94 car, beating son in the #13.

In the second race the Robinson Racing #13 car took 1st again when the #94 car withdrew with it second blown tire of the race.  Tiger Racing took 3rd when he had to slow down towards the end of the race in order to preserve a tire that was looking like it wanted to come apart.  At the end of the race the tire looked like it was holding on by a thread or two.  That left the door open for USF to come in 2d in the race and second overall in the Open Class.  USF ran a strong, smooth and uneventful race which is just how it should go but rarely does.

In the Experimental Battery Class (EX) Cliff from ProEV #39 car out of Miami was unopposed and had a track high 195 laps for the day.  I think he scared off the other EX Battery Class cars.  There was a rumor that the other drivers had to work.  Work should never get in the way of racing.  Ha….

High School results for two races

1st Simmons #60 163 laps,  2nd Middleton #80 161 laps, 3rd  TBT # 242 156 laps, 4th Brandon #9 149 laps, 5th Wharton #58 138 laps, 6th Brandon #14 129 laps, 7th Middleton #133 125 laps.

Open Class results for two races

1st Robinson Racing #13 189 laps, 2nd USF #132 183 laps, 3rd Tiger Racing #4 181 laps, 4th Robinson Racing #94 127 laps

Thanks to the Middleton team for putting on a great race and for the food and goodies provided.  It made for a great day of racing.

In the pits during the day teams were seen helping each other and loaning batteries and wheels etc.  True sportsmanship on display for this race and every race.

Hope to see everyone and more at Simmons Career Center, 1202 Grant St in Plant City on December 12, 2015.

Vic Nieves

One of the goals of Electrathon Racing is How Far Can You Go in One Hour on One Set Of Batteries.
On the 1/4 mile track is where you can find out. Aerodynamics come into play here more than on a road course. Gear ratios are the other big factor. Too high and you can kill the batteries. Too low and you cant keep up. The wear and tear on the cars is less but tires need to be 100%
ATTENTION TO DETAIL.. one problem or one oh …. and you are out of it. Make sure your mirrors are set up so you can see the car coming up on your 6.. You MUST be able to see cars coming up on BOTH sides. Min. of 8 sq. in. If you can see both sides with one mirror. Two are better.
The weather for this Sat is looking good. Not too hot and no rain.

See you Saturday.

Vic

On Tuesday, November 10, 2015, The Hillsborough County School Board will present to Ken Fiallos (ETO Founder) the 2015 STEM Champion Award. The ceremony starts at 530pm and will be held at 901 E. Kennedy Blvd in downtown Tampa. Please come out and support Ken and our organization (ETO) at this recognition ceremony.

Charlie

Our next race will be at Middleton High School, located at 4801 North 22nd Street, Tampa FL 33610. The Middleton Team will be selling food as a fund raiser for their teams, one of them is an ALL GIRLS TEAM, the only one in the entire State of Florida. The course will be an oval with two areas on the back straight away that has cones to make a simple serpentine for drivers to navigate through. The green flag for the first race drops at 10am and drops again at 1pm for the second race.