CLUB SUPPORT

63.68 MPH!

CAL POLY HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLE TEAM SETS A NEW NATIONAL COLLEGIATE RECORD

On its last possible run and after battling last-minute technical difficulties and some frustrating wind conditions, a human-powered vehicle (HPV) created by a team of Cal Poly engineering students broke the American collegiate speed record in September, setting a mark that hadn’t been bested in nearly three decades.

The new record, 63.68 mph, was set during the 20th annual World Human-Powered Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain, Nevada. The previous mark was 61.29 mph, set by a team from UC Berkeley in September 1992.

An HPV is any vehicle powered by muscular strength. The most common HPV is a bicycle. Cal Poly’s HPV, a front-wheel drive recumbent bike covered with a bullet-shaped shell made from carbon fiber and Kevlar, is named Ambition. The Cal Poly team split into subgroups specializing in different areas, such as the shell and drive train. Mechanical engineering seniors Derek Fromm and Michael Juri developed the drive system.

Custom tailored for its driver, biochemistry student Josh Gieschen, the team worked on Ambition for a year. And in the days leading up to the race, the team had to make multiple significant changes, adding a new windshield and fixing a chain that repeatedly fell off.

There would be other factors — some out of the team’s control. To qualify for a record, the wind can’t exceed be 3.7 mph. During the week, Ambition actually surpassed the record on an early run, reaching 66.43 mph. But the wind speed disqualified it as a record-breaking attempt.

As the final day approached, wind was forecast to be above 3.7 mph in the evening. But the Cal Poly team had a window of opportunity earlier in the day.

“It was literally our last chance,” Fromm said.

Gieschen got off to a good start, and his speed continued to increase down the five-mile stretch of State Route 305 until finally exceeding the 27-year record with “legal wind.”

“We are all super proud of everything the team accomplished,” said mechanical lead Kyra Schmidt. “And we are excited to continue improving and come back even better next year.” n

Cal Poly HPV driver Josh Gieschen, above, needed help from team members Kyra Schmidt, Derek Fromm and Keyanna Henderson to get into the vehicle for a practice run. Below: The newly painted HPV cruises down State Route 305 outside of Battle Mountain, Nevada, on its record run.

Team Effort: Cal Poly HPV Club Sponsors

CHAMPION LEVEL • Advance Tube Engineering • Lightning Cycles • Safran

CHALLENGER LEVEL • Cal Poly Mechanical

Engineering Student Fee

Allocation Committee • ICX Transportation

RACER LEVEL • Cateye • Foothill Cyclery • Tenergy