Four Local Schools To Compete In Super Mileage Challenge
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Can you imagine driving a vehicle that gets 1,000 miles to the gallon?
Students from four area schools, Triton, Warsaw, Wawasee and Whitko high schools, will compete in the 15th annual Indiana Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Alliance Super Mileage Challenge at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis Monday.
In total, 39 Indiana schools will field 51 cars in two classes of the competition, stock and unlimited class. Stock class entries allow no modification to the engine, while unlimited class allows engine modifications.
Cars in the unlimited class usually average more than 1,000 miles per gallon, and this year, some of the 22 entries will try to design cars that get more than 1,500 miles per gallon.
During the competition, students design and build their own cars and raise all the funds needed for the competition with a teacher's supervision.
Engines for the cars are provided by Briggs & Stratton Corp, but all other materials used in the challenge must be donated by sponsors or purchased by the team.
Schools submit detailed technical proposals about the design and composition of the car to be eligible for the competition. Students must explain aerodynamic drag as well as friction, braking and cornering forces in detail to show they are learning about both building the car an scientific principals of high mileage.
During the process of building the car, students also learn problem solving skills and the benefits of working in a team to solve complex problems.
At this year's competition, Senator Dick Lugar will talk with students at the technical inspection, which will be Sunday at the Vincennes University Aviation Technology Center hangar at indianapolis International Airport. He also will present an award to James M. Thompson for his work with the Super Mileage Challenge.
IMSTEA is a non-profit educational organization made up of teachers, administrators, business people and concerned citizens dedicated to improving technological literacy and competence.
