"We have a real efficient vehicle that places a premium on rolling resistance, aerodynamics and fuel economy. The car performed exceptionally well at the competition," states team leader Elliot Goodman, a senior mechanical engineering major from Northbrook, Ill. He pointed out that the vehicle achieved its 1,637 mpg performance on its first of three runs around the oval speedway. The other two runs recorded 1,604 mpg and 1,600 mpg.

Rose-Hulman’s three-wheeled vehicle utilized a Honda 25cc gasoline engine taken from a weed whacker and a lightweight body made from carbon fiber, with honeycombed Nomex core and aluminum framing, covered with a clear PETG body shell. The vehicle is eight feet and four inches long, 26 inches wide and travels one and one-fourth of an inch off the ground.

Steady Around Track: Rose-Hulman driver Danielle Steinke, a junior civil engineering major, concentrates on completing a smooth and efficient run around the race track with achieving 1,637 mpg during the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas Challenge.

"This accomplishment is something that’s been a long time coming . . . everything finally paid off," stated Steinke, the driver for the second place performance. "Since the run was done early in the day, there was very minimal wind and very few other cars on the track.

"This year, the car was really reliable so that, as drivers, we were able to concentrate on getting the smoothest route around the track," she said. "Since our car has a clear body, after about the third lap it started to get really hot inside the car. Luckily, we had a water bottle with us so that we could drink plenty of water."

Snider added, "It’s not the most comfortable (vehicle to drive) and it gets pretty hot, but it’s fun to drive. I was very nervous initially, but we got time to practice on the track, which made me feel better."

The competition’s combustion engine division included 16 U.S. college and high school teams. California Polytechnic State University placed first at 1,902 mpg. Mater Dei High School of Evansville was third at 1,596 mpg. Other competitors were Purdue University, University of California, Louisiana State University and the University of Massachusetts.

Rose-Hulman’s team plans to improve upon its achievement at the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Supermilage Competition on June 7-8 near Marshall, Mich. The team achieved 1,234 mpg with a different vehicle in the 2004 SAE competition. The team may also compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon UK Challenge on July 4-5 near Corby, England.

Proud Of Achievement: Junior mechanical engineering major Katie Snider kisses the trophy that the team received for finishing second in the Shell Eco-Marathon Challenge -- culminating three years of trials, tribulations and testing for the Rose-Hulman team.

"A second place finish is great in itself, but it definitely makes us want first place for the SAE competition," says Michael Haughney, a senior mechanical engineering major from Peoria, Ill. "We have a couple more tricks up our sleeves, and there are a few of us who are confident we can get 3,000 mpg."

Senior mechanical engineering major Robert Lally, another four-year team member, stated, "Our car is in better shape than it has ever been at this time of the year, and the team is attacking the weak points of the car in preparation for the SAE competition. With the car so far along, we will have time to test and refine the car so we can achieve the best possible results at SAE."

Other team members include senior Michael Gough and Chris Ryan; and sophomores John Cergnul, Blake Lin, Brian Spangler, Cory Stansbury and Aren Thompson. Mechanical Engineering professors Rick Stamper and Allen White are the team’s co-faculty advisors.