Thread: Electrathon - A Different Kind of "Hotrod"

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Thank you both. The cars are technically interesting and sometimes aesthetically appealing, too. Most of all, they are a blast to drive. Being an old stock car racer, I am accustomed to combustion engines that have to turn up some RPM's to generate horsepower. Boy, did I have a lot to learn when I started playing with electric motors! I still have a lot to learn...

Resto - I have heard of a competition similar to what you describe. It's called the "Sun Day Challenge". It's for kids in 8th grade and younger, I think...

The objective in Electrathon is to complete the most laps in a given amount of time (usually 1 hour). We are limited to 67 pounds of lead-acid Gel Cell or AGM batteries or we can use two batteries off the approved list (My team uses two Optima batteries) wired in series for a 24 volt system. Each car must also carry a 180 pound payload (payload is defined as the driver plus ballast, if necessary, to equal a minimum of 180 pounds).There are races held at real racetracks occasionally, but most of the courses we run on are temporary parking lot venues. All you need is somebody to race against and a place to do it and you can hold an Electrathon race.

Innovation and ingenuity are the name of the game in this sport. Although most of the cars are capable of speeds in excess of 40 or even 50 mph, because of the tightness of the short courses and the need to conserve the limited battery power, race speeds are usually only in the 24 to 28 mph range which makes this a fairly safe sport. Even so, competition is sometimes close and fierce. Here are some typical cars:
Pic 1 is a Blue Sky Designs Aerocoupe. This is a very popular kit car. It is of the "cycle car" type, meaning it has two wheels up front and one in the rear. They are aerodynamic, light, mechanically simple, and very reliable. They ain't cheap, though.
Pic 2 is a front-wheel-drive car. Note the motor is mounted on the front fork. Batteries are behind the driver and the driver sits well back in the car. This is a tricycle design (one front wheel, two rear). Tricycle style cars have a tendency to roll over if the weight is not kept centered between the rear wheels. If you've ever ridden a three-wheel motorcycle, you know what I mean.
Pic 3 is one of my team cars. This is a cycle car style and the driver reclines way down low. It was originally built with independent front suspension, but I recently converted it to rigid suspension for better reliability and less weight.
Pic 4 is one I built for myself. this is the car that I just sold recently. It is cycle car style and includes a six-speed derailleur.
Pic 5 is the dominant car in this area right now. It ain't pretty, but it's fast. It is powered by a 1 hp Scott motor, uses a six-speed derailleur in the rear, and the chassis is suspened and linked to the steering so that it leans into the turns.