SOUTH WHITLEY - The Whitko High School transportation technology class competed April 26 in the 2010 IMSTEA Super Mileage Challenge.
The team's cloudy and rainy day at the track ended with an official 306.89 miles-per-gallon average and best single run of 790.21 miles per gallon in the unlimited division, placing the Wildcats seventh in the division.
The stock entry achieved a 141.9 miles-per-gallon average with a best run of 270.8 miles per gallon.
The Wildcat team exceeded their target goal in the unlimited division of 300 miles per gallon average by 6.89 miles per gallon.
Fifty vehicles from various Indiana high schools and one university competed for the 2010 titles.
The challenge is sponsored by the Indiana Math Science and Technology Educators Association to promote the integration of math, science and technology education.
Each school must first create a design proposal for their entry. The proposal must include underlying math and science principles and calculations of vehicle configuration, maneuverability, stability, fuel economy, aerodynamics, breaking systems, turning radius, driver safety and a cost estimate. Technical drawings must be included for each of these areas.
Once the design is approved by the IMSTEA, it is an official entry and may be produced for the competition. Each school is provided a Briggs and Stratton engine for each vehicle entered. After production the vehicle is then tested and modified to improve the design. The final vehicle must then pass a mandatory technical and safety inspection before it will be allowed to compete.
The competition takes place at Indianapolis Raceway Park. A qualified run consists of 10 laps around the 5/8ths mile speedway completed under a 25-minute time limit. At least three qualified runs must be achieved to be eligible for a placing. The fuel is weighed before and after the run and mathematically calculated to revile the mileage achieved.Whitko's transportation and manufacturing classes thank their sponsors for time and support, including: Johnson Brothers Sign Co., Whitley Welding and Fabrication, Star Tire and Automotive, Tarkio Road Bicycle Shop, Tranter Paper Co., Times-Union, Arnold Brothers Oil and Parts, JP Machine, B&J Rental, NAPA in Columbia City and Joe Jackson.
Students competing on the 2010 team were: Brent Busz, Riley Debaillie, Curtis Sheperd, Jordan Eberly, David Campbell, Scott Paulus, Jenna Kahn, Dakota Sheperd, Trent Walther, Blake Hendrickson, Michael Wheeler, Kyle Ousley, Cody Ackerman, Nathan Horn and Stephen Sommers.
The lead faculty members were Jay Ocken and Bryan Sprunger.
