Waialua Car Wins Pricey Grand Prix
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Del.icio.usThere was no glorified finish-line for the Bulldogs at the Electrathon Grand Prix, but their first-place win tasted just as sweet.
Waialua High School’s training team of six students and two teachers took top national honors in the Student Class race during the 2006 competition May 27-29 at Portland International Raceway, which drew 29 electric vehicles. This is the second such win for Waialua, since 2003.
With its track record, Waialua’s chances for another title are likely. The team may not be returning, however, because of the costs involved and the time needed to raise cash.
“We tried everything - letters, Zippy’s, car washes,breads,candy - practically everything,” said lead teacher Timothy Pregana. “I’ll be honest. It actually takes more time to fund-raise than to build the car, and building the car takes a lot of time. “
The race’s objective is to see which car travels the farthest combined distance on a 1.9-mile track in one hour, over three consecutive days. Waialua’s Jefferson Bruno, a 2006 graduate, was the driver for the race - an honor given to the hardest-working student.
“The challenges are aerodynamics, resistance, driver strategy and using your batteries wisely,” Pregana explained.“What I learned the most from this national race is that aerodynamics is very key. By that I mean a streamlined, teardrop shape, a rounded nose with some point at the end of your car.”
The team placed second in the Open Class race in Portland and brought home the Design Innovation Award. They also won Best of Show for the state in HECO’s Electron Marathon in 2006, 2005 and 1997.
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