Supermileage
Finishes First Once Again By Jill Seiler
In a year that has seen one disappointment after another, 2020, if anything, has forced everyone to get a little more creative. Mater Dei’s Supermileage team had been working hard during the 2019-2020 year with the goal of reclaiming victory at the Shell Eco-marathon held in Sonoma, California in April. However, the pandemic forced the cancellation of just about everything last spring, including this live event. Shell instead offered a virtual competition of seven categories including the category of Technical Innovation. Never wavering, Mater Dei’s group of talented young students and dedicated coaches and volunteers decided to try their hand at competing for this off-track award. “I think this was the first time we have applied for an off-track award,” said Bob Neisen, adviser for Mater Dei’s team. “We are always so focused on getting the cars ready and performing well, that the off-track awards have never been our priority.”
For their efforts, Mater Dei won the technical innovation category, earning a first-place trophy and a $3000 check. “Every year we watch these brilliant young minds from all across the Americas rise to the challenge of innovating for a lower carbon future,” said Pamela Rose, Shell Eco-marathon Americas spokesperson. “These students are the future leaders of the world who will continue to push the boundaries of the energy transition and ultimately bridge the gap between imagination and what’s possible.” Of course, Mater Dei’s Supermileage Team isn’t satisfied with just another win in the books. The team is already diligently preparing for next spring when they can hopefully get back to the track for a live Eco-marathon event. If it’s canceled again though, you can bet they’ll attempt to advance technology in another off-track award.
Switching the team’s focus from a live event to virtual proved to be no easy task, especially competing against 65 other universities and high schools across North and South America. “It’s not as easy to motivate the students to do paperwork as it is to motivate them to build cars,” said Neisen. “We had to submit a 1,500 word paper describing our new innovation, how it improves the car, and the potential for real-world applications.” The new technology impressed Steve Marty, lead judge for the competition. “This team designed, constructed, and then refined an airless tire and wheel combination. They optimized four wheels for weight reduction, frictional grip, rolling resistance, and aerodynamics. These tire/wheel combinations have the potential for various real-world applications and energy savings. “
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