It was a great day for racing at Lennard High School with 14 cars from 10 teams in 3 divisions.

The schools name sake, Dr. Earl Lennard, former Hillsborough County School Superintendent dropped the green flag a 10 A.M. on a bright and sunny day.

The course was just short of a half mile around the drivers ed. range, a parking lot and as an added treat around the dumpsters.  The fastest lap of the day was just over 54 seconds by Drew in the 72 car.  He also turned in the top lap count of the day at 111 for both races.

Our ranks are growing.  USF was back with their Lithium Ion battery powered car.  They were here for testing and only ran the second race.  As fast as they were going the other cars in the Experimental Battery Class better look out when they are 100%.

Strawberry Crest was back and put in a good showing with a 3rd place finish in both races for 3rd overall.

The home team did a fantastic job getting the course ready for the races.  There were a lot of hay bales and tires to sling.  The Lennard 86 car was having a great day in the first race, right up to the point where their rear drive wheel had a slight problem when it lost its ball bearings.  Any time there is a problem with the drive wheel on any of these cars it makes for a real bad day.  Lennard missed 3rd place while sitting in the pits at the end of the race.

In the second race Brandon High School took 1st and 2nd in the High School Class.  The #14 car edged out the #9 car on time with the same lap count.  Strawberry Crest beat the Middleton #365 car by 13 seconds for 3rd place over the one hour.

Brandon took 1st in both races for their 1st overall of the year.  Something about new batteries in old cars.  They are working on a new car to start replacing the 8 year old cars they are using.

In the Open Class, in the first race Tiger Racing and Robinson Racing were neck and neck the whole race with Robinson Racing edging out Tiger for a 1st.  In the second race it was Tiger Racing all the way when Robinson Racing had to withdraw with mechanical problems.

In the Experimental Battery Class we want to welcome back Team USF.  They should give the Electrocutioners and ProEv a run for it when the are fully operational.  They only ran the second race but were very fast.  ProEv had some chain problems in the first race but kept it together in the second for a close 1st place heat win.

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE PITS

Some teams need to work on their mirrors.  Way to much duct tape could cost you next race.  Check the rule book.  You can not continue racing if any safety device or ballast item fails during a race.  YOU MUST fix it or be DQ.   Our cars are electric/battery powered, everyone who works on them should know how to hook up a battery or electrical item properly and the wiring should be either red for positive and black for negative.  Positive = RED, Negative = Black.  One of the cars was having a problem getting their transmitter to register at the start of the race.  The transmitter was fried/killed/dead when it was hooked up when the ground side was connected to the positive side of the battery.  $50 plus transmitter fried.  This is the third or fourth one in two years.  All team should keep 9V batteries in their kit to use with the Red transmitters or if there is a problem with the wiring harness on the white ones.

We want to welcome Jefferson High School.  They are working on a car and had a team at the race to get a feel for how its done.  Word is Plant High School might have their car ready for the January Race at Wharton High School.

RACE RESULTS

High School  1st Brandon #14, 2nd Middleton #365, 3rd Strawberry Crest #30, 4th Brandon #9

Open Class 1st Tiger Racing #4, 2nd Robinson Racing #94, 3rd HCC #13

Experimental Battery Class  1st Electrocutioners #72, 2nd Electrocutioners #8, 3rd Pro Ev #39, 4th USF #132

Vic

It was a great day for racing at Lennard High School with 14 cars from 10 teams in 3 divisions.

The schools name sake, Dr. Earl Lennard, former Hillsborough County School Superintendent dropped the green flag a 10 A.M. on a bright and sunny day.

The course was just short of a half mile around the drivers ed. range, a parking lot and as an added treat around the dumpsters.  The fastest lap of the day was just over 54 seconds by Drew in the 72 car.  He also turned in the top lap count of the day at 111 for both races.

Our ranks are growing.  USF was back with their Lithium Ion battery powered car.  They were here for testing and only ran the second race.  As fast as they were going the other cars in the Experimental Battery Class better look out when they are 100%.

Strawberry Crest was back and put in a good showing with a 3rd place finish in both races for 3rd overall.

The home team did a fantastic job getting the course ready for the races.  There were a lot of hay bales and tires to sling.  The Lennard 86 car was having a great day in the first race, right up to the point where their rear drive wheel had a slight problem when it lost its ball bearings.  Any time there is a problem with the drive wheel on any of these cars it makes for a real bad day.  Lennard missed 3rd place while sitting in the pits at the end of the race.

In the second race Brandon High School took 1st and 2nd in the High School Class.  The #14 car edged out the #9 car on time with the same lap count.  Strawberry Crest beat the Middleton #365 car by 13 seconds for 3rd place over the one hour.

Brandon took 1st in both races for their 1st overall of the year.  Something about new batteries in old cars.  They are working on a new car to start replacing the 8 year old cars they are using.

In the Open Class, in the first race Tiger Racing and Robinson Racing were neck and neck the whole race with Robinson Racing edging out Tiger for a 1st.  In the second race it was Tiger Racing all the way when Robinson Racing had to withdraw with mechanical problems.

In the Experimental Battery Class we want to welcome back Team USF.  They should give the Electrocutioners and ProEv a run for it when the are fully operational.  They only ran the second race but were very fast.  ProEv had some chain problems in the first race but kept it together in the second for a close 1st place heat win.

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE PITS

Some teams need to work on their mirrors.  Way to much duct tape could cost you next race.  Check the rule book.  You can not continue racing if any safety device or ballast item fails during a race.  YOU MUST fix it or be DQ.   Our cars are electric/battery powered, everyone who works on them should know how to hook up a battery or electrical item properly and the wiring should be either red for positive and black for negative.  Positive = RED, Negative = Black.  One of the cars was having a problem getting their transmitter to register at the start of the race.  The transmitter was fried/killed/dead when it was hooked up when the ground side was connected to the positive side of the battery.  $50 plus transmitter fried.  This is the third or fourth one in two years.  All team should keep 9V batteries in their kit to use with the Red transmitters or if there is a problem with the wiring harness on the white ones.

We want to welcome Jefferson High School.  They are working on a car and had a team at the race to get a feel for how its done.  Word is Plant High School might have their car ready for the January Race at Wharton High School.

RACE RESULTS

High School  1st Brandon #14, 2nd Middleton #365, 3rd Strawberry Crest #30, 4th Brandon #9

Open Class 1st Tiger Racing #4, 2nd Robinson Racing #94, 3rd HCC #13

Experimental Battery Class  1st Electrocutioners #72, 2nd Electrocutioners #8, 3rd Pro Ev #39, 4th USF #132

Vic

We are in a parade, Longwood Florida on December 3rd, if your team plans to attend, please contact Fredi to obtain all of the information.

ETO will pick up and 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.

Update: We took 3rd place in the Auto Division of the parade, Monday, December 19, 2016, we will be presented the award. Here is the video link that Andrew (Electrocutioners) made. Thanks

UPDATE: We conducted another on site visit to complete the design of the track and the safety barriers. The straight away is 667 feet long and 25 feet wide, the 180 degree turns / portion will be 40 feet or more in width. Our safety barriers will consist of cones, hay bales and tires. Set up will begin on Friday afternoon and be completed early Saturday morning.

The fourth race of our season is rapidly approaching along with the holidays. ETO wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Our next race will be held at Lennard High School, 2342 Shell Point Road East, Ruskin Florida 33570. The track is approximately four tenths of a mile (approx. 2112 feet) and should challenge our teams and drivers.

Red – Course

Yellow – Safety Barrier

Blue – Pits

Black – Safety Divider – Tires / Cones / Hay Bales

Green – Registration

Gray – Scoring Tower

Thank you, Middleton High School Electrathon Team, Faculty, Administration and Bus Drivers from around the County for a great race venue.

After a two year hiatus we were back on the BIG Parking Lot at Middleton.  Weather was great and the track was fast.

A new record was set for total overall laps.  The Old Record was 112 laps set the last time we were on this track in 2013 by the Electrocutioners in the 08 car.  That was also before Lithium Ion batteries.  The New Record is now 118 laps also set by the Electrocutioners car 08.  The record was set this time with the new batteries and a new driver.  Pony tore the track up with the next closest car 11 laps down.

The High School record for total overall laps was safe.  Brandon High School car 09 set that record in 2013 with 102 laps.

Lennard High School was back in action taking 2nd overall in the High School Class.  They are working on a second car and bought one of our spare frames.  We look forward to seeing what they come up with.  Lennard is hosting our next race on December 10th and the course looks like a good one with 11 turns and over 2000′ in length.

Robinson Racing was back for the first time this season with a brand new car and an out of state ringer for a driver.  They did very well breaking the new car taking 1st in the Open Class.

Our condolences go to Rodney (Tiger Racing) on the loss of his father. We regret that our race was scheduled on the same day of his father’s service. In all of the years that ETO has been racing, this was the first race that Rodney was not able to attend. Sorry for your loss.

Cliff from Pro EV was back with us and took a 1st place in the 1st race beating the Electrocutioners car 08 in the Experimental Battery Class on time differential on the last lap.  The tire gremlin got him in the second race for a 3rd place finish.

In the High School Class there was a lot of tight racing all day.  Brandon had controller problems with the 9 car and the 14 car lost laps due to chain problems.  Lennard High School ran strong in both races taking a 2nd in the first race and a 1st in the second race finishing 2nd overall in High School.

The Middleton Tigers ran strong with the 80 car taking 1st overall in High School.  The 365 car, the Duck Car, took 3rd.  The 133 car had battery problems in the second race and finished the race but down in the lap count.  All three of their cars ran well in both races.   After two hours of racing the top three cars were separated by four laps.  All the Middleton cars are running at least 36v using smaller batteries but at higher motor RPM.

There were some glitches in our scoring system with several cars having transmitter problems.  We were able to keep track using hand scoring.  We have added more transmitters and now have some set aside with 9v batteries as emergency spares to be installed mid race using every racers standby DUCT TAPE.  We did that on the 133 car in the second race with no loss of laps.

24v, 36v, 48v, 60v, more lighter batteries, fewer heavy batteries, aerodynamics, Lithium Ion, AGM, gear ratios, driver discipline and computer programming are just some of the factor that go into a successful race car/team.  Look around the pits the next race and see who is doing what.

High School Class: 1^st Place Middleton 80, 2^nd Place Lennard 86, 3^rd Place Middleton 365, 4^th Place Brandon 14, 5^th Place Middleton 133, 6^th Place Brandon 9

Open Class:  1^st Place Robinson Racing 94, 2^nd Place HCC 13

Experimental Battery Class:  1^st Place Electrocutioners 8, 2^nd Place Electrocutioners 72, 3^rd Place Pro EV 39

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving and looking forward to seeing everyone at the December Parade in Longwood and at Lennard for the next race.

Vic

Electrathon and Junior Solar Sprint Racing Teams, our next race of the season will be held at Middleton High School, located at 4801 North 22nd Street, Tampa Florida 33610. The race day schedule will be the same as last season.

Yellow Safety Barrier

Red Track/Course

Green Registration and Scoring

Black Scoring Tower

Blue Pits

tbt-race

The second race of the season is in the books.

The usual suspects were present for the races. We want welcome back the team from HCC for their first race since early last season and Tampa Bay Tech High School for hosting the race.

The conditions were good with cool temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The course was smooth and fast, with some cars hitting speeds in the mid 30s on the long straights.

In the experimental battery class the 08 and 72 cars battled it out during both races with Pony in the 08 beating Drew in the 72 when his batteries went down early in both races. The 72 car is new this season and Drew is working out the bugs.

In the first race the big excitement was the HCC car, with a new driver, blowing a tire on the drive wheel causing a Red Flag on the track when it went sideways and stalled. The driver did what most people do when driving. Hitting the brakes when a tire blows is never a good idea. The car got sideways and traded paint with the 08 car which escaped unharmed. The HCC car tore up the front end of the nose cone and had to withdraw as the damage caused the driver’s feet to have no protection.

A BIG SHOUT OUT to recognize the Middleton Team for jumping in to help the HCC two person team fix the car. When they were done the car looked fine but could not pass the safety inspection. The Middleton Team exhibited a good example of sportsmanship, one of the many such acts at our Electrathon Races. Before the races and during the break between the first and second races, teams were working on their cars and helping other teams with their car(s). One of the teams gave another team a new tire and inner tubes to help get them up and running.

During the second race that attention to detail monster showed up twice. The 133 car from Middleton, which was going real well and racking up the laps, lost power and had to pit. That Attention to Detail got them. A cable on one of the batteries came off. A lose bolt caused the problem and the pit crew was slow repairing the problem. The car lost multiple laps and missed out on 2nd place in that race by seconds. Then there was the 365 car from Middleton. The one that sported a green and yellow paint job that looks like a yellow beaked Oregon Duck. It spent the first part of the second race drafting the 133 car until the car took an unplanned pit, stopping up against the Brandon High School team trailer breaking its beak. The 365 car had a minor problem with the steering. The steering wheel weld to the steering shaft broke. Welds are the one thing that a safety inspection might not find, especially if the weld is not a smooth clean weld.

Thoughts from the Pits: Electrathon America Design and Safety rules allow a partial frame when the car has a full body over the frame. With the HCC and the Duck car both receiving front end damage and with no injury to the drivers the cars could not continue. The cars conformed to the safety rules and everything worked out.

ALL TEAMS should take a close look at their cars with the thought, would it be a good idea to ADD an additional piece to the frame. Look at the area where the driver’s feet rest. Then ask WHAT IF.  Is there a frame component that protects the driver’s feet in the event of a front end crash, even with a full body over the frame?

Idea for the pit crews:  How many different size nuts and bolt are there on the car?  The fewer sizes the fewer tools needed to make an adjustment, service or repair. You can have a small GO BAG with what you need to make a QUICK Repair/Pit Stop. Think Batteries, Steering, Wheels/Tires.

Results:

High School Class: Middleton 80 – 1^st place, Middleton 133 – 2^nd place, Brandon 14 – 3^rd place, Brandon 9 – 4^th place,  Middleton 365 – 5^th place

Open Class: Tiger Racing 4 – 1^st place, HCC 13 – 2^nd place

Experimental Battery Class: Electrocutioners 8 – 1^st place, Electrocutioners 72 – 2^nd place

We want to welcome Plant High School, from South Tampa, to the Electrathon of Tampa Bay Family. They picked up one of our loaner cars and will be working feverishly to get it ready to race. Hope to see them on the track in December at Lennard High School.

The next race is on the Famous Middleton High School course the first Saturday in November. We will be on the BIG parking lot. It is a long course with all the turns and long straights.

See you in November

Vic Nieves

Steve Lamson, one third of the Electrocutioners Team who has raced with ETO for the last 8 years, delivered two donated Electrathon race cars to us on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. ETO is deeply honored by this generosity and will put the cars to great use towards growing our program!

Electrathon of Tampa Bay sends our condolences during this time of loss to the family and friends of Rodney Schreck (Tiger Racing). Rodney’s father passed away Sunday, October 16, 2016.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay sends our condolences during this time of loss to the family and friends of long time supporter of ETO Doug Andrews (lifetime friend of Ken Fiallos). Doug passed away Tuesday, October 18, 2016.

Congratulations to Middleton High School Senior  Katelyn Alla Continue reading Katelyn Allan Receives The Van Guard Award →