A group of Albert Lea students has been spending a lot of time in the garage lately tinkering with their cars, but these cars are not the run-of-the-mill Camaros and Mustangs.

Thursday, April 26, 2001

A group of Albert Lea students has been spending a lot of time in the garage lately tinkering with their cars, but these cars are not the run-of-the-mill Camaros and Mustangs.

With the help of ALHS industrial technology teacher Mike Sunblad, the students are developing high-mileage cars that achieve efficiencies topping 400 miles per gallon.

The ALHS team will test their car this weekend at the 2001 Super Mileage Challenge in Indianapolis. The competition brings 44 schools from the upper Midwest to the Indianapolis Raceway Park to test their ultra-efficient designs.

&uot;This is really a test run for us to help us get ready for our own state competition in Brainerd,&uot; Sunblad said, adding that out-state teams aren’t eligible to win the title, but the experience is still worth the trip.

Sunblad said the Albert Lea team is competing in the stock class, meaning the standard 3.5 HP Briggs & Stratton engine cannot be modified. His goal is to achieve an efficiency of at least 400 miles per gallon.

&uot;If we can reach that, we’re going to be competitive at this challenge,&uot; he said.

The Albert Lea team had to submit the design of their high-mileage vehicle to challenge officials for approval, and then raise enough money to build and test it. Once they arrive in Indianapolis, officials will inspect the car before allowing it on the track.

Freshman student Jon Van Erkel said the car weighs about 68 pounds. Driver Becka Lamson, a senior, must navigate the car through three official runs of ten laps around the oval track, reaching speeds approaching 30 miles per hour.

&uot;We trimmed about 20 pounds off this car’s weight from last year,&uot; said Van Erkel, who has been participating in competitions for three years. &uot;If the conditions are good, it can really roll.&uot;

Freshman Ryan Walters said the Albert Lea car is constructed mainly of sheet metal atop a chromolly frame. The three-wheel design uses a bike sprocket to allow for coasting, he said.

The team will leave Saturday, and have the chance to test their vehicle and make any fine-tuning adjustments before the competition begins Monday.

Sunblad, who has taken teams to competitions for about 10 years, said building the cars is a valuable teaching tool. Students use applied physics, learn skills such as welding and small engine repair, and do it all in a collaborative atmosphere.

&uot;It’s amazing what these kids come up with. It’s such a real world learning event,&uot; he said. &uot;The skills are important, but it’s the teamwork that’s the most important.&uot;

The challenge is sponsored by the Indiana Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching practical applications of math, science and technology.

According to Sunblad, last year’s winner from North Central High School in Indianapolis, won the stock category at 458.98 MPG.