DESPITE what your grandfather might have told you, the truth is kids today have come a long way. To give you an indication of just how far, imagine travelling to Brandon and back on a single gallon of gasoline. It sounds impossible, right? Not if you're a member of the Sisler High School Supermileage team.
This industrious group of students has created a pair of fuel-frugal machines capable of achieving more than 500 miles per gallon. The team, made up of eight students and led by metals teacher Jamie Richardson, is loading its innovative cars onto a trailer and heading off to the Minnesota Technology Education Association's annual Supermileage Challenge next week in Brainerd, Minn.
Members of the Sisler High School Supermileage team, from left, Joshua Bautista, Mark Bauer, Evan Schellenberg, Keith Macaig and Jason Basaraba surround metals teacher Jamie Richardson, seated in the custom car they created.
The machines may be complex, but the concept is simple. Build a car from scratch, utilize a small Briggs and Stratton engine, and see how far you can make it travel on a gallon of gas. In competition runs the vehicles are filled with a preweighed amount of fuel and must be capable of travelling six miles in less than 24 minutes. At the conclusion of the run the remaining fuel is then reweighed, and the amount used is converted into mpg. Safety is of paramount importance, and during the competition, which takes place on the Brainerd International Raceway track, the cars must not exceed 30 mph.
This is the first year that Sisler will be competing in the challenge. Richardson, 44, was born and raised in Ontario, but moved to Manitoba back in 1999 to pursue a career as a teacher. After attending the technical vocational teachers education program at Red River College he was hired on at Sisler in 2001 to take over the school's newly minted metals program. The longtime motorcycle technician and former racer initiated the supermileage team shortly after taking the reins. "I figured it would be a great way to get the students interested and allow them the opportunity to further enhance the skills they have learned in metals class," offered Richardson, "I have since been totally amazed by their enthusiasm and ingenuity."
Richardson attended Brainerd last year on a fact-finding mission and noted that there were more than 90 schools and 120 cars in the competition. He also took along a video camera. Although they had already begun constructing supermileage cars, after watching the video the students soon learned that to be competitive they would need to go back to the drawing board. "They quickly realized that the cars needed to be long, low and lightweight," said Richardson. "They have since really dug in their heels and devoted a lot of time and energy to the cars."
While the program does have an operating budget, it also relies heavily on student fundraising initiatives and assistance from a number of local companies, including NC Machine and Tool, GT Cycle, Rondex Limited, Canadian Tool and Die and The Battery Man.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the three female members of the team won't be able to attend the competition, but the car they worked so hard to complete will be there. "Ossama Gwizon has really stepped up, and he will be looking after that car in Brainerd," added Richardson, who was quick to point out how proud he is of each and every member of the team. "I get frustrated when people say kids these days are lazy or have bad attitudes," said Richardson. "From what I've seen they are hard-working, dedicated, eager to learn and fun to be around."
Students Erin Gwizon, Cindy Lamoureux, Brianna Hrabarchuk and Ossama Ghazal spent countless hours on their creation.
Grade 12 student Keith Macaig, who intends to further study welding and metal fabrication following graduation from Sisler next month, was equaully quick to point out how much the students appreciate their teacher's dedication.
"Without Mr. Richardson we wouldn't have this opportunity," said Macaig. "He is here early in the morning and quite often late into the evening helping us, he has really proven that if you give us a chance we can do anything we set our minds to.
Sisler will also be hosting its own challenge On June 14, and although it won't be anywhere near as large an event as the Brainerd competition, the city is allowing it to close off a portion of Redwood Avenue to demonstrate the cars to their full potential. In addition to the supermileage demo, students who built chopper bicycles in metals class will also be able to show and shine their unique creations.
For more information on the event contact Jamie Richardson at 589-8321, extension number 154.
Chopper bikes are also popular.
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