for details go to
Electrathon of Tampa Bay/Florida Seasson Opener Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
We had a great STEM Electrathon Event on Saturday, September 14th. For complete write up, go to
August 31, 2024, Miami Dade Auto Show
The EV Race at Miami International Auto Show was the first of its kind in South Florida, an in-door Electrathon Race.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/s1jyzgyzRBJBzc7G/?mibextid=oFDknk
Electrathon of Tampa Bay / Florida
Our first race will be held on September 14th at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.
See details at: ELECTRATHON OF TAMPA BAY | ELECTRATHON RACING
Electrathon of Tampa Bay/Florida
The workday at Middleton High School went well. Check it out at:
August 31, 2024
June 8, 2024 / Homestead-Miami Speedway
Miami high schoolers experience the electric thrill of racing
April 6, 2024 / Emerald Coast Electrathon 120
End of Year Banquet/Awards May 11, 2024
The 2023-2024 race seasons ended with the dinner and awards/recognition banquet.
On Saturday, May 11th, Electrathon of Tampa Bay/Florida took over the American Legion Post 4 dining area with the help of ETO Co-Founder Mike Frederick.
We thank The American Legion Post 4 for everything they did in making our banquet a success again this year. Their support for our organization has continued every year for quite some time, from mounting the brackets in our trailer for the scoring tower to preparing and serving the dinner for all of those that attended the banquet. We had a salad, steak, grilled shrimp, baked potatoes, green beans, and let’s not forget the cupcakes loaded with icing and a great atmosphere.
Mike Frederick, aka race steward/co-founder and final say on ruling for inspections and track activity was awarded a special thank you gift for arranging our banquet.
We thank everyone (especially the parents and sponsors) that supports the students/our organization each year, without their support; we may not be as sucessful as we are.
Electrathon is growing in the State of Florida; we have assisted Florida State College with two of their events/races to attract interest in a northeast region of Florida. We hope that a northeast Florida organization develops in the future. Watch our websites for updates as they come available.
We recognized our graduating high school seniors and told them that we hope to continue seeing them on a college team, an enthusiast, a guest, better yet, a volunteer at the races.
The high school student of the year from each high school is selected by the team sponsor. To qualify, a high school must be active in our organization for 50% + of the race season for this award to be given.
Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation – David Kocher
Student of the Year – Santiago Zapata
Santiago Zapata is a great addition to the team this year as he has really stepped up and has taken on a lot of responsibilities that I (sponsor) previously handled.
Middleton High School – William Knight
Student of the Year – Joshua Joseph
Middleton’s Racing Tigers outstanding student is the strong silent type. He is the epitome of dependability, a constant presence in our garage. He is committed to excellence, and it shows through his questioning other teams about their techniques and his practicing his driving skills weekly. He approaches every project with determination and wants to deliver nothing but his best. His relentless work ethic stems from an innate desire to succeed, propelling him to push the boundaries of his abilities in pursuit of victory. In both the garage and on the track, Joshua Joseph’s unwavering dedication shines through, making him a true asset to Middleton’s Racing Tigers.
Mulberry High School – Todd Thuma
Student of the Year – Aiden Johnson Aidan joined the Electrathon team last year and has made significant progress and contributions to the team. He has stepped up and learned various aspects of engineering related to automotive and racing. He volunteers with a formula 5 team. He researches many aspects of racing including rack and pinion, regenerative braking, and alternative motors for our humble style of racing. He has demonstrated leadership and mastery of new skills. For example, Aidan has learned to respoke and true our wheels. For all of these reasons, Aidan Johnson is my choice this year for Mulberry Electrathon Student of the Year.
Plant City High School – David Kocher
Student of the Year – Dylan Mitchell
Dylan Mitchell is the student of the year for PCHS. I am very pleased that he has stuck with it despite having no support from the school. Dylan’s family (support) has been a great help to Dylan and our team, without them I may have sidelined the PCHS team to focus on KRAI.
Past team member Torie Hobbs from Simmons and Middletons Ryan Norden has challenged each other. It’s going to take a few years for their kids to compete against one another but we believe its going to be worth the wait. We were not able to show one of the competitors as their arrival is a few weeks away. Let the competition begin!
Middleton High School was awarded the Best Pit/Equipment Trailer this year. It is 100% self-contained with solar energy to run everything from lights to charging the batteries for all three of the team cars.
Supporter of the Year – Dawn Swanson accepted by daughter Ambur
Dawn started helping years ago when her daughter was on a race team. Dawn continues to be at the races, helps set up, works the registration area and helps wherever she is needed.
Parent of the Year – Renee Dunham (Mulberry HS Parent)
Renee assists the Mulberry HS team at the races, anywhere from the purchase of items for the team cars, bringing or purchasing lunch for the entire team, etc. She has started helping at the registration area and at an out of area race, the food truck did not show up and she went and contributed and picked up the pizza for all the teams.
Volunteer of the Year – Mike Raplh
Mike does not want to be thanked for what he does, but we had to let folks know and recognizing him, this way was the best way. Mike comes to every race, helps with track set up, the scoring tower, goes around with a blower or broom so that the track is safe for drivers, does car inspections (and at times doesn’t make folks happy as he is one that likes to go by the Electrathon America Handbook rules), serves as race steward, assists teams that break down, then makes sure everything is accounted for when the race day ends. Without Mike, Charlie’s race day would not be a good one as Charlie depends on Mike because he is always there for the organization, students and participants.
College Sponsor of the Year – Robert Wechsler
Florida State College Jacksonville has the best sponsor. Robert makes sure that his team car makes it to the races. We are talking about a drive to and from Jacksonville so that his students can compete. He is a true leader. The award had a little twist (zip ties) as the team car had a battery issue at one of the races and zip ties were not the solution. Robert is also working with others in the Jacksonville area to possibly get their region up and running with a race circuit. We are here for you Robert and appreciate all you are doing.
Charlie gave appreciation items to those that share the registration/scoring canopy with him. It does get stressful and challenging during the race day but without them, it would be difficult to get done what has to be done.
Thank You Dawn Swanson
Thank You Trish Ralph you are amazing and appreciated
This year our open and advanced class participants were down. We spoke with teams the first part of the season and changed their season points to overall laps during the race season. When we reviewed everything at the end of the season, it was a better way to make it competitive for those attending. Award for 1st place only
Advanced Class – Season Lap top three
1st Place Middleton HS car 27 – 472 season laps
2nd Place Pro EV car 39 – 463 season laps
3rd Place University of South Florida car 48 – 429 season laps
Open Class – Season Lap top three
1st Place Tiger Racing car 4 – 1301 season laps
2nd Place Florida State College (Jacksonville) car 904 – 706 season laps
3rd Place Silver Bullet car 94 – 341 season laps
The high school teams competed for season points per race. (top 3 awarded trophies)
1st Place Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation car 555 – 380 season points
2nd Place Mulberry car 100 – 208 season points
3rd Place Plant City car 83 – 204 season points
4th Place Mulberry car 38 – 187 season points
5th Place Middleton car 80 – 169 season points
We will have a all teams workday at Middleton HS on August 24th from 8am to 2pm
Our first race of the season will be at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on September 14th.
Last Race of the Season May 11, 2024, Mulberry High School
We held our last STEM Electrathon Event for the 2023-2024 race seasons at Mulberry High School on Saturday, May 11th.
We thank Mulberry HS Sponsor Todd Thuma, his team and MHS Administration for hosting our event.
We welcome back the Lyman High School Team.
The pit area was full of energy as teams got ready for the last race of the season.
We attached our normal receiver strand for scoring to the suspension tower that Ken Fiallos designed/built to test its ability during a normal race day. (It performed well)
The teams met with our Race Officials for instructions, flag identification and safety protocols.
The track opened for 30 minutes so that drivers could run practice laps.
The teams lined up for the first race, USF car 132 had a last minute issue and did not make line up. Silver Bullet car 94 had a rear wheel issue and started later. Tiger racing car 4 got in the lineup and their rear tire lost its bead sending them to the pits.
The green flag dropped and off they went.
During the race S & J Racing had a few issues come up that sent them into the pits and then back to racing they went.
When the checkered flag dropped, ending the first race, the results were:
High School
1st Place Lyman car 12 with 91 laps
2nd Place Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation car 555 with 90 laps
3rd Place Plant City car 83 with 88 laps
4th Place Plant City car 210 with 81 laps
5th Place Middleton car 133 with 79 laps
6th Place Mulberry car 38 with 71 laps
7th Place Mulberry car 100 with 65 laps
8th Place Middleton car 80 with 63 laps
Open
1st Place Florida State College (Jacksonville) car 904 with 89 laps
2nd Place Tiger Racing car 4 with 73 laps
3rd Place Silver Bullet car 94 with 22 laps
Advanced
1st Place Middleton HS car 27 with 91 laps
2nd Place University of South Florida car 48 with 88 laps
3rd Place S & J Racing car 128 with 66 laps
4th Place Silver Bullet car 13 with 44 laps
Between races, the teams worked on their cars, ate some lunch and shopped the parts that were on display and for sale.
Teams lined up for the second race, all 16 cars were ready.
The green flag dropped, and the teams found their line on the track. The race went well and was fun to watch.
When the checkered flag dropped ending the second race, the results were:
High School
1st Place Kirkland Ranch car 555 with 96 laps
2nd Place Lyman car 12 with 93 laps
3rd Place Middleton car 80 with 90 laps
4th Place Plant City car 210 with 87 laps
5th Place Mulberry car 38 with 86 laps
6th Place Plant City car 83 with 84 laps
7th Place Middleton car 133 with 74 laps
8th Place Mulberry car 100 with 60 laps
Open
1st Place Tiger Racing car 4 with 99 laps
2nd Place Silver Bullet car 94 with 93 laps
3rd Place Florida State College (Jacksonville) car 904 with 87 laps
Advanced
1st Place Middleton HS car 27 with 97 laps (fastest track lap of day 29.819)
2nd Place University of South Florida car 132 with 92 laps
3rd Place University of South Florida car 48 with 52 laps
4th Place S & J Racing car 128 with 52 laps
5th Place Silver Bullet car 13 with 19 laps
To find our overall race results for the day we add the two race lap totals.
Final results for the race day:
High School
1st Place Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation car 555 with 186 laps
2nd Place Lyman car 12 with 184 laps
3rd Place Plant City car 83 with 172 laps
4th Place Plant City car 210 with 168 laps
5th Place Mulberry car 38 with 157 laps
6th Place Middleton car 133 with 153 laps
7th Place Middleton car 80 with 153 laps
8th Place Mulberry car 100 with 125 laps
Open
1st Place Florida State College (Jacksonville) car 904 with 176 laps
2nd Place Tiger Racing car 4 with 172 laps
3rd Place Silver Bullet car 94 with 115 laps
Advanced
1st Place Middleton HS car 27 with 188 laps
2nd Place University of South Florida car 48 with 140 laps
3rd Place S & J Racing car 128 with 118 laps
4th Place University of South Florida car 132 with 92 laps
5th Place Silver Bullet car 13 with 63 laps
We had a great race season, thank you for supporting the teams and organization.