By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Electric car racing at the high school level is a little like golf in that the lowest score wins. Great Bend High School's Vocational Tech Club recently finished third in a series of three races that determined a state champion. Travis Straub, the woodworking teacher at GBHS and club sponsor, gives credit to his small team of juniors Matthew Williams and Alex Allen, and sophomore Josh Manning, who drives the car.
"It takes kids who are interested in doing it," he said. "The kids I had didn't pass that on before COVID, so I lost a couple of years. These kids saw it hanging in the ceiling in the woodshop and said let's get this going."
Straub started the club in 2006 when local energy companies suggested GBHS join the electrorally races. The first car was already built and continues to race at Fort Hays State University. A second car custom-built at GBHS no longer exists, and Straub sold a third car after it began showing signs of wear. Williams, who serves as the pit crew at races, said the team works on the current 488X car when it can.
"We don't really have a designated time for this as other schools do," he said. "Some schools, like Kansas City, have a specific class time dedicated just to building the car. We have to do this either in our free time in our first hour or extra time out of class."
The 488X car is powered by a pair of gel-cell electric batteries. A 50-watt solar panel has been affixed to the vehicle to prolong battery power during races. Straub said there are tricks to get even more juice out of the battery.
"We try to heat the batteries up to about 110 degrees and we overcharge them," he said. "What looks like 24 volts, we're getting close to 30 volts packed into those batteries. That's how we can extend the lifespan of the race itself, but we shorten the life of the batteries as a result."
Great Bend won state championships in 2018 and 2019. Races are conducted on courses approximately 2,000 feet in length, and the team competed in three races that are compiled for a total team score. The first race was held in Scott City on April 4, then the team traveled to Hays on April 17. The final race was May 4 at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City. Teams race for an hour, and the team with the most laps wins. Scott City won the state title with a combined score of 1.835 points. Great Bend finished with 2.01 points to just miss second place.
A single rear wheel on the 488X car provides the power and two bicycle tires up front provide the steering. The cars are not overly fast when compared to street vehicles, but Manning said the layout of the car makes it feel a lot faster.
"In Kansas City, I did the math," he said. "We were averaging 32 miles an hour. You're two inches off the ground going 32. It feels like you're doing 80."
Using bicycle parts at those speeds and on tight terrain keeps Williams and Allen busy as the pit crew. Most repairs during a race are routine, but other drivers have crashed into Manning twice causing more serious damage.
"I've gathered a great deal of appreciation for people that do racing, whether it's NASCAR or drag racing," Straub said. "It takes a lot of effort to get the car to go around like you want it to. It doesn't matter what level of racing you're at, I have a great appreciation for those types of people."
To level the playing field, the cars must transport 180 pounds. For a lightweight like Manning, that meant placing an extra weight on the front of the car, more weight in the back, and some ankle weights spread around inside the car. Teams must also write a paper about the history and evolution of their car.