Under the bright stadium lights of Oswego Raceway, a band of Auburn High School students last weekend unveiled their silver, 12-volt, battery-operated handcrafted race car they spent over a year building.
Felicia Francischelli and Mike Tesorio slipped inside the three-wheel racecar and sped across the racetrack for the New York Electrathon's 2007 Fall Central New York Electrathon Challenge last Saturday while student mechanics Jake Bouley, Matt Clancy, Tim Brown and Nate Kayn made sure every part of the car operated smoothly.
And while, in its premiere race, the electric race car and its team beat out vehicles from several school districts in the region to tie Cato-Meridian Central School District's team for first place, technology teacher Bill Gilmore deemed the race a success not just by which team completed the most laps.
“My first reaction was that I was extremely happy for the district and proud of the students,” he said. “It wasn't so much that we placed first; rather, the students got to see their perseverance and hard work actually pay off and they were successful.”
This is just the beginning for the race car, Gilmore said. He intends to enter the race car and its operators in future New York Electrathon competitions this spring, and hopes to raise money to travel to Connecticut for its Electrathon race in May, a race he said brings together “the best of the best” from the east coast.
Gilmore, who teaches engineering courses at the Auburn Enlarged City School District high school, came up with the idea of building an electric car several years ago as a way to introduce students to cutting edge technologies. After receiving grants to fund the equipment to build the car, he recruited his students in Project Lead the Way - a national program that gives middle and high school students education needed to develop strong backgrounds in science and engineering - to construct the racecar.
“I think one of the most important things is not only that we're using alternative energy, but what the students take away from this, and the community takes away from this, is that the students in this program are going on to college, going on to industry, and they are going to take those ideas and alternative sources and put them to use,” Gilmore said. “They are the future engineers and it's important that they are exposed to this before they enter the workforce.”
After spending a year building the vehicle, Gilmore and his students entered it in the race with the goal of saving enough juice in the battery to complete the competition. Instead, the two drivers sent the racecar around the track 72 times, tying with Cato-Meridian's team, though that team is disputing the results, Gilmore said.
Over the last few months, and especially after the win, Gilmore said students at Auburn High School have been excited, enthusiastic and interested in the racecar. This has gotten him thinking about what other possibilities are out there.
“I think this is just the beginning of an entirely new study in alternative energy,” he said. “This is just the beginning. We may go onto a study of hydrogen fuel cells and also making other vehicles that are alternatively powered, not just racecars.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ex. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
And while, in its premiere race, the electric race car and its team beat out vehicles from several school districts in the region to tie Cato-Meridian Central School District's team for first place, technology teacher Bill Gilmore deemed the race a success not just by which team completed the most laps.
“My first reaction was that I was extremely happy for the district and proud of the students,” he said. “It wasn't so much that we placed first; rather, the students got to see their perseverance and hard work actually pay off and they were successful.”
This is just the beginning for the race car, Gilmore said. He intends to enter the race car and its operators in future New York Electrathon competitions this spring, and hopes to raise money to travel to Connecticut for its Electrathon race in May, a race he said brings together “the best of the best” from the east coast.
Gilmore, who teaches engineering courses at the Auburn Enlarged City School District high school, came up with the idea of building an electric car several years ago as a way to introduce students to cutting edge technologies. After receiving grants to fund the equipment to build the car, he recruited his students in Project Lead the Way - a national program that gives middle and high school students education needed to develop strong backgrounds in science and engineering - to construct the racecar.
“I think one of the most important things is not only that we're using alternative energy, but what the students take away from this, and the community takes away from this, is that the students in this program are going on to college, going on to industry, and they are going to take those ideas and alternative sources and put them to use,” Gilmore said. “They are the future engineers and it's important that they are exposed to this before they enter the workforce.”
After spending a year building the vehicle, Gilmore and his students entered it in the race with the goal of saving enough juice in the battery to complete the competition. Instead, the two drivers sent the racecar around the track 72 times, tying with Cato-Meridian's team, though that team is disputing the results, Gilmore said.
Over the last few months, and especially after the win, Gilmore said students at Auburn High School have been excited, enthusiastic and interested in the racecar. This has gotten him thinking about what other possibilities are out there.
“I think this is just the beginning of an entirely new study in alternative energy,” he said. “This is just the beginning. We may go onto a study of hydrogen fuel cells and also making other vehicles that are alternatively powered, not just racecars.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ex. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
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