On September 12, 2019, we will hold our All Team Board Meeting at the Cracker Barrel by Lazy Days RV in Seffner Florida. Arrive at 6 p.m. for dinner, the meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Every team should send a representative (sponsor, team captain, etc.) to this meeting to obtain the student waivers that parents and students must sign giving consent to participate at our events. These forms will be completed and turned in at the registration table at the first race to participate in our events. Team sponsors can not sign for the parent(s) or student.

At the meeting we will discuss what has taken place over the summer break and ask teams how they are preparing for this years race season.

Please text Charlie to let him know if your team will or will not be at the meeting and how many members are attending for seating purposes.

Thanks

Hello Racers!

With the Great American Celebration of Speed at Daytona approaching we need to start getting a count of what teams will be going. Below is a link to fill out for your team.

https://forms.gle/2W4i9Nq8RVGKKu7w9

This event will be 3 days long, October 11-13 where Electrathon will hold time trials, each team will be given 3 attempts each day to set the fastest time on Daytona’s 1 mile infield track where the fastest lap time wins. Electrathon of Tampa Bay will also have a booth set up to teach visitors all about Electrathon.

Ryan, Todd, Jim

We have had a break in our normal routine, there were changes in our organization, our team sponsors, some of us had health issues, and we all experienced the loss when Fredi and Tom moved to Indiana, but it is time to pick up the pieces and get ready for the 2019 – 2020 Race Season. This year we will have events at Hillsborough Community College, Daytona International Speedway, Lee County Mosquito Control (a runway – check your email for hotel information to reserve your rooms), University of South Florida, University of Central Florida (Energy Whiz Olympics) to name a few. Our 2019 – 2020 Race Schedule is posted on our website, a few races are pending final approval.

Over the summer we had our very first Electrathon Build Training with Instructor Jim Robinson (Co-Instructor Rodney Schreck) in Titusville thanks to one of our sponsors providing the funding to make it happen. In two days, the jig for building a car was constructed and a frame was formed, welded to include battery boxes, rear wheel mounting sprocket and front wheel steering and wheel assembly. The first class trained (Ambur, Charles, Kevin, Todd, Victoria, William) provided feedback for future trainings. We are hoping to have other sponsors of ours donate the funds for additional training in the future.

We want to thank Polk County Public Schools, Jessica Hall (Senior Analyst, Media Productions), Heaven Keller and her team that attended our races last year to make the documentary on Electrathon of Tampa Bay/Mulberry High School Team and Sponsor Todd Thuma. Please go to either one of our Electrathon of Tampa Bay Facebook Pages to see the documentary and share with everyone.

Our Executive Board will be meeting this week and our ALL TEAMS MEETING (Sponsor/Captain, etc.) will be in September and notices will be sent to all teams after the Executive Board Meeting.

Keep checking our website for updates.

Charlie

On May 4, 2019 in Cocoa Florida another year of Electrathon Racing was completed. After our last race of the season in Cocoa Florida we held our end of the year awards ceremony.

2018 – 2019 Executive Board Member of the Year – Fredi Beck
This award went to a very special lady that has been with Electrathon of Tampa Bay for a number of years. Fredi has been the right hand for Ken Fiallos and Charles Harrison until she recently moved to Indiana after retiring from Hillsborough County Public Schools. Fredi is still our ETO Treasurer and Publicist from far away until we find those folks that can take over her duties. Fredi we love and miss you.

2018 – 2019 Business Sponsor of the Year – Lowes in Valrico Florida Manager Jennifer Tyzenhaus

Special Student Recognition Gifts – each student received a blue tooth speaker
Dillon, a student at Mulberry HS has been with his team ever since it started a few years ago. He is dedicated to his team and sponsor, always willing to do what it takes to get the car ready for the next race or out of the pits and back in the race, always thinking about what the team can do for the next race to perform better.

Nadar and Julie, students at Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate HS went beyond anything ever seen at an Electrathon Race. Their driver was having a difficult time driving their team car due to her shoes kept getting in the way of operating the foot pedals. These student took off their shoes and gave them to their team driver so she could drive the car in a safe manner. Not in attendance

Eryk, a student at Brooks DeBartolo always steps up to assist the Simmons Career Center team as a pit crew member or a driver. Not in attendance

2018 – 2019 High School Team Sponsor of the Year – Todd Thuma from Mulberry High School
Todd gives all he has to everything he does at his school for his students. He supports them, guides them, corrects them and leads them. Todd has a huge heart and is dedicated to his profession and students. Todd entertains everyone at the races with his hand gestures to go faster, go slower or just perfect speed. He even gets red faced at time and dances for all of us to watch as he motions to his drivers on their cars progress.

2018 – 2019 High School Team Captain of the Year – Ambur from Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate HS
. This Team Captain is dedicated to her school, team and sponsor. She gets the team members motivated and involved in preparing their car for the races and attending the races. She is self motivated, full of energy and determined to do well

2018 – 2019 They Broke Mine Award USF Aditya Chelikani (Sai)
At the first race of the season the original USF car had an accident while being driven by another USF student. At the Brandon HS race their new car had an accident while being driven by a guest VIP. Both cars were repaired and still run in all of our races.

We gave each of our 2018 – 2019 Season Points Winners in each class a blue tooth speaker. High School Class – Mulberry Car 38 with a total of 359 season points Advanced Battery Class – USF Car 48 Aditya Chelikani (Sai) with a total of 326 season points Open Class – Tiger Racing Car 4 Rodney Schreck with a total of 308 season points Everyone had to wait to open them all at once.

2018 – 2019 Mentor of the Year – Jim Robinson of Silver Bullet/Robinson Racing Jim Robinson is an amazing individual, he has accomplished so many things, to name jut a few, he is a husband, father, grandfather, teacher, designer, builder, welder, electrician, mechanic and most of all, a mentor to all of us. Jim helps to solve car issues at races, fix the oops, assists when a team needs a part that he has (an extra) in his toolbox. Recently one of our teams had an accident with their car, Jim had the team come to his home (aka Jim Robinson Hospital) on a Sunday morning to conduct surgery on the broken car. By nightfall the car was out of surgery and looked great. The car went that week to Chambers Alabama and Barber Motorsport races, taking first place in class and in overall at all the races. A week later the car went to Five Flags Speedway and again took first in class and first overall. Thanks Doc, great job. Jim is always available to give others advise/assistance, and always gives Charlie sound advice without the bologna. Jim Robinson cars are known around the US. In Florida we have put them to the test and they continue to amaze us in every aspect. Jim is the State of Florida Representative for Electrathon America. He has this one saying “I am getting to old for this stuff”, but Jim continues to be there for all of us with love and support. It is an honor to have Jim Robinson as one of our Electrathon Family Members.

2018 – 2019 Most Laps during the Season
Advanced Battery Class – USF Car 48 Aditya Chelikani (Sai) with 1,135 laps driven this season High School Class – Mulberry Car 38 with 1,002 laps driven this season Open Class – Tiger Racing Car 4 Rodney Schreck with 946 laps driven this season

2018 – 2019 Fastest Lap – based on the race with the most teams/cars attending. This year it was the Hillsborough Community College Race in September 2018 Advanced Battery Class – USF Car 48 Aditya Chelikani (Sai) with a lap time of 24.840 High School Class – Mulberry Car 38 with a lap time of 32.573 Open Class – Tiger Racing Car 4 Rodney Schreck with a lap time of 34.297

From our Electrathon Family to your Family, Have a Safe and Wonderful Summer

On May 4, 2019 Electrathon of Tampa Bay (ETO) held their last race of the 2018 – 2019 Race Season at the Energy Whiz Olympics in Cocoa Florida.

ETO thanks Susan Schleith of the Florida Solar Energy Center for inviting us again this year to their annual event.

A special thank you goes out to Lillian for everything she does each year for ETO.

Another special thank you goes this year to Kaileen (Susan’s daughter) for taking all of the pictures.

Here are the photos of the Energy Whiz Olympics, Junior Solar Sprint and more:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rO6-lhn4uFLnvBjBBJFQ0VDmdyLylAY5?usp=sharing

What a great day of racing. The open class had a rough day, the three cars in the class all ended their race day before the first race was over. Tiger car 4 (Rodney) never left the pit area after coming off of the truck, possible blown motor controller. ETO Car 60 (Brady) had a rear wheel collapse in one of the turns on lap twelve. Silver Bullet/Robinson Racing car 94 (Jim) had a little scraping noise as he went around the track, a little louder each time until he finally bottomed out due to a grade 8 bolt that sheered off causing the front suspension issue and put the front end on the ground.

At the end of the first race, it was Ryno Racing car 365 (Ryan) beating USF car 48 (Sai) by seconds in the Advanced Battery Class as both cars had 79 laps. USF car 132 (Stephen/John) finished the first race with 53 laps and no broken parts. In the Open Class, that had all the issues, Silver Bullet/Robinson Racing car 94 (Jim) barely beat ETO car 60 (Brady) by 2 laps. In the High School Class, Mulberry car 38 had a 23 lap win over Simmons car 35. Brooks DeBartolo car 55 remained in the pits the entire first race with mechanical issues. But the race day was not over for those teams with running cars.
In the second race, all Open Class cars stayed in the pits.
The Advanced Battery Class was at it again, racing for the win of the day. USF car 48 (Sai) took the win the second race by three laps over Ryno Racing car 365 (Ryan), USF car 132 (John/Stephen) only completed 12 laps as their tires finally said enough, no more racing this season.
In the High School Class, Simmons car 35 met the challenge after their 23 lap loss the first race and beat Mulberry car 38 by 31 laps, Brooks DeBartolo car 55 got on the track and had numerous tire issues, but finished with 26 laps.

At the end of the day, the last race of the 2018 – 2019 ETO Race Season the results were:

Advanced Battery Class – 3rd Place – USF Car 132 John and Stephen with 65 laps. Advanced Battery Class – 2nd Place – Ryno Racing Car 365 (Ryan ) with 160 laps. Advanced Battery Class – 1st Place – USF Car 48 Sai with 163 laps. High School Class – 3rd place – Brooks DeBartolo Car 55 with 26 laps. High School Class – 2nd Place – Mulberry Car 38 with 108 laps. High School Class – 1st Place – Simmons Car 35 with 122 laps. Open Class – 2nd Place – ETO Car 60 Brady Driving with a total of 11 laps, Charlie accepted award for Brady. Open Class – 1st Place – Silver Bullet/Robinson Racing Car 94 with 13 laps.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay will have their 2019 – 2020 Race Season posted soon, there are a few locations still finalizing the details for their race day.

On April 27, 2019 the traveling teams from Electrathon of Tampa Bay landed at Five Flags Speedway. Numerous teams arrived after us as everyone from ETO was excited to be at this race and had to get their early. The ETO trailer was full of cars, first to enter the gates and first to be assigned a pit area. The teams liked that.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay thanks Vaughn Nichol and all of the sponsors for inviting us again this year. As they do every year, they provided a great race day, lunch / drinks for all of the teams. Vaughn retired in December 2018 and is enjoying time with the family.

This year, there was a team from St Paul HS in Covington Louisiana. The students built three cars and they look awesome.




They ran lithium batteries and did real well, at the 30 minute mark of the first race they were ahead of USF car 48 until their floor pan dropped out due to the course being so rough.




At the end of the day USF car 48 (Sai) took first place in the open class and first place overall. Our good friend Steve Archer (Archer Racing) of Milton, Florida took second place in the open class and second place overall. Ryno Racing (Ryan) took third place in the open class and third place overall.Tiger Racing car 4 (Rodney) took fourth place in the open class. USF car 132 (John and Stephen) ran well in both races. ETO car 60 the vintage box car ran in both races and even lasted 59 minutes the second race.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay will hold their last race of the season on May 4, 2019. The race will be held in conjunction with the Energy Whiz Olympics located at 1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa Florida 32922. Each year students from all over come together for this one day event.

https://energyresearch.ucf.edu/education/k-12/energywhiz/

The course (red) will be the same as last year, the pit area (blue) will be for team trailers and canopies, all other vehicles will need to be parked in the southeast parking lot so that the race officials can have view of the track during the races.

After the races we will clean up the venue before we hold our race awards and our end of the year/season awards.

Saturday evening, we will all meet at a local restaurant for dinner and fun.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay Teams will be on the road again this week, heading to Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola Florida. This year we will have the following Teams attending:
USF Car 48 (Sai)
USF Car 132 (John / Stephen)
Tiger Car 4 (Rodney
Ryno Car 365 (Ryan)
ETO Car 60 (Charlie)
We do not have any High School Teams attending this year but this needs to change at the race for 2020.
GOOD LUCK TEAMS

On Sunday, April 14, 2019 after the storms / tornado rolled through the area, Electrathon of Tampa Bay Teams headed out of their hotel in Valley Alabama and headed to Leeds Alabama for the Barber Motorsports Electrathon Races that were going to happen on Monday, April 15, 2019. When we arrived and checked into our hotel it was still early. We all headed to the Barber Motorsports Complex to their awesome museum. While there, we were able to see the Chin Racing Team on the track before heading into the museum.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tZm5BJFhAdqzjBG28

What a display of history, a must see if ever in the area.

On Monday, Teams lined up at the entrance waiting for the okay to enter. Once inside the canopies got set up, cars and equipment unloaded and final work on the cars began.

Teams at this event were:
USF car 48 (Sai), USF car 132 (John/Stephen), Tiger car 4 (Rodney), Ryno car 365 (Ryan) and ETO car 60 (Charlie).

USF 48 was dominate in each race, USF 132 was able to compete in the first race but was not able to get back out on the track for the second race as they blew their battery charger. Ryno 365 did well both races, Tiger 4 had to be towed in towards the end of the first race as the front weld on the axel let go. Rodney got out his welder, fixed the weld and added additional support pieces and raced well the second race. ETO 60 did well the first race and completed 5 laps before the batteries died and in the second race it did well until the batteries died again.

At the end of the day, USF 48 (Sai) took first place, Ryno 365 (Ryan) took second place and Archer Racing 321 (Steve) took third place.

Next year ETO wants to have a number of our High School Teams attend this race as it is a 2.38 mile track that our teams would enjoy.

On April 12th and 13th, teams from Electrathon of Tampa Bay competed on an awesome course with hills (up and down), chicanes and cooler weather than in Tampa. Thanks to Chambers County Career Tech Center and Seth Stehouwer for the invite.

On the 12th the Electrathon cars raced:
USF car 48/68 laps (Sai), Archer Racing car 321/66 laps (Steve), Tiger car 4/59 laps (Rodney), Chambers car 212/37 laps, ETO car 60 (an antique with old batteries) 30 laps (Charlie) and USF car 132/24 laps (Stephen) and a smoking trail as they burned up their controller preventing them from finishing lap 25.

Seth and his volunteers fed us BBQ sandwiches, chips, cookies/ice cream and drinks.

On the 13th the Green Power cars took the track for their High School and then Middle School races. These students are amazing, their drive and dedication was noticed by all during their 90 minute races. One of the car bodies is made with chicken wire, insulation foam, painters tape and fiberglass. Very sleek looking car 106, the team all wore shirts that said NERD.

The Electrathon cars took the course again and did well:
USF car 48/73 laps (Sai), Archer Racing car 321/61 laps (Steve), Tiger car 4/50 laps (Rodney), Chambers car 212/53 laps, ETO car 60/23 laps (John/Stephen/Charlie) and USF car 132 never left the pits.
The Green Power cars HS and then MS took the track again for their second 90 minute races, each of these cars have a cute horn that ETO should implement into our race team cars so drivers can honk at one another to move over.

Thanks again for the invite to Chamber County Career Tech Center.