09/13/12 jb
HAYS, Kan.
-- High school students will race their electric- or solar-powered cars in the
14th annual High Plains Rally on Thursday, Sept. 27, at West Frontier Park,
from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Fort Hays State University
Department of Technology Studies, North Central Kansas Technical College,
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, Midwest Energy Inc. and Western
Cooperative Electric Association.
Teams of
students will race their cars on a quarter-mile course of twists and turns, with
one hour to complete as many laps as they can. The car with the most laps wins.
Trophies will be awarded to first and second place in the experimental and
standard categories.
'"This
year about 13 teams are expected to enter. Each team could have multiple cars
and usually there is two or three students per pit crew per car," said
Joseph Chretien, assistant professor of technology studies. NCKTC students will
host the rally.
Registration
begins at 7 a.m., and inspections of the cars begin at 8 a.m. The races will be
run professionally with car inspections, and safety rules will be enforced all
day.
The rally
is coordinated by Chretien The race
steward this year will be Kevin Vering, NCKTC instructor.
"The
best part about the rally is watching the interaction between students, teams
and their sponsors. These teams from the high schools could be a class or a
club," said Chretien. "I hope the students learn to appreciate the
correct use of energy and how to make a good car design that will last the race."
The rally
is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided free for the teams and
volunteers. For more information, contact Chretien at 785-628-4314 or email him
at jchretie@fhsu.edu.