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Efficient Vehicle Posts 1,070 mpg at Supermileage Competition
June 24, 2011
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On The Track: Rose-Hulman's Efficient Vehicles Team
completes a lap around the 9.6-mile track at Eaton Corporation's
proving grounds during this year's Society of Automotive Engineers'
Supermileage competition. (Photo hy Allen White) |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's high performance Efficient
Vehicle Team achieved 1,070 mpg to post a strong fourth place at
this year's Society of Automotive Engineers' Supermileage
competition. There were 30 college and high school teams
participating this year at the Eaton Corporation's proving grounds
in Marshall, Mich.
The performance was pleasing to team members, which worked
diligently to fabricate a new car, with a new engine, in the two
weeks before the competition. Also, there was a rookie driver
behind the wheel around the 9.6-mile track.
"It was an outstanding performance for a new car, engine and
driver," stated Allen White, the team's faculty advisor. "As
always, the team worked well together and took their work, but not
themselves, seriously. I am very proud of the students' hard
work and I am glad that the team performed so well during the
competition."
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Providing Instructions: Efficient Vehicles Team President
Steve Sakai uses a pit row sign to pass along instructions to
driver Zak Eckert during the supermileage competition. (Photo by
Allen White)
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The engine featured a Yamaha cylinder and head working inside a
required Briggs & Stratton block. It was completed in
Michigan and was repaired extensively overnight in order to
compete.
Team President Steve Sakai worked tirelessly and used his
mechanical engineering skills to get the new engine working
properly. Meanwhile, Zak Eckert was the team's first male
driver and improved throughout his three tours on the course.
SAE's Supermileage competition offers a simple yet challenging
goal: to build a one-person, fuel-efficient vehicle based around a
small, four-cycle engine. Engines are donated by Briggs &
Stratton.
Photos of the competition are available for viewing at https://picasaweb.google.com/white.611/SAE2011