The Shell Eco-marathon Americas moved from Houston, Texas, to Detroit, Mich., this year, and Wawasee High School’s Supermileage teams still placed high enough to win cash prizes over the weekend. With its prototype diesel car, the Wawasee Gold team placed second. Its best result was 1,227 miles per gallon. Wawasee earned a cash prize of $1,000. Wawasee White placed third in the prototype alternative fuel category. Its best result using ethanol was 695 mpg. With that placing, Wawasee earned another $500. The third Wawasee team, Wawasee Green, had a best result of 724 mpg for 10th place in the prototype gasoline category. Wawasee engineering and technology teacher Allen Coblentz said there were more competitors in the gasoline competition. He said more than 30 teams qualified to compete in the category. Coblentz said the Eco-marathon ran the past five years in Houston. Due to construction in Houston, it had to move to Detroit this year and possibly the next couple years. And whereas the Houston track was flat, Detroit’s had hills. The Eco-marathon is a challenge for students to design, build and test fuel-efficient vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. There are three competitions around the world, with the Americas competition featuring university and high school teams, according to the Shell website. “The other part that made it difficult was they gave you one day to test drive your car,” Coblentz said of the competition. Test driving that was supposed to take place Friday on the Detroit track was canceled because winds got up to 55 mph and it rained, Coblentz said. During the actual runs, he said there were many accidents, but no injuries were suffered. One Wawasee car had a broken window and another car rolled over. “There were many accidents and break downs because of the lack of testing of the cars,” Coblentz said. But he said the event in Detroit was fun and there were a lot of neat things available with it being in the “Motor City.” Former late night talk show host Jay Leno was there, filming. Coblentz said Leno interviewed different people including members of the Wawasee team at one point. Students had to sign waivers to be filmed, and the project Leno was working on will be aired sometime later this year. “It was neat to have someone of that stature at the event,” Coblentz said. For more information on the event and results, visit the website at www.shell.com/global/environment-society/ecomarathon/events/americas.html
