Green Grand Prix, Watkins Glenn, NY USA - April 20-21, 2012

[sendler]

Did you compete? I need an Ecomodder t-shirt and some stickers. I wish I would have known Bob was going to allow award winners to speak as I wanted to promote the new fuel efficient Honda motorcycles. I hope to show up with a streamliner next year that can clearly win it both days. And prove, as I did this year by commuting 50 miles to and from the event both days even in the pouring rain, that my vehicles are highway capable, everyday drivers.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Bummer. Fill-up / measurements are the constant issue with these competitions.

Congrats on your performance though - I didn't realize I was talking to "sendler" - just before the awards ceremony, that was me and Wonderboy (Will) chatting with you about your bike.

I was of course wearing my "team EcoModder" t-shirt for proper identification to other forum members, but it was way too cold & damp to be wearing just a t-shirt yesterday!!

[geomartin]

sendler, I was the guy in the X-Prize Chevy Metro diesel conversion. Last year we achieved, according to the Green Grand Prix, 106.7 MPG. I was shocked that the scales were off that much. I was also wondering how come the high school team from West Philly scored lower than last year, from 160MPG to a mere 92.5MPG (self measured) on bio-diesel alone, still that is great for a 2000+lb vehicle with a 1.9L TDI engine, in fact I think its a world record for that particular engine. Here is the spec sheet on the car EVX GT

[geomartin]

I would like to find more of these competitions, it seems that most are on the east or west coast and none in the midwest. Any suggestions?

[sendler]

Originally Posted by geomartin

sendler, I was the guy in the X-Prize Chevy Metro diesel conversion. Last year we achieved, according to the Green Grand Prix, 106.7 MPG. I was shocked that the scales were off that much. I was also wondering how come the high school team from West Philly scored lower than last year, from 160MPG to a mere 92.5MPG (self measured) on bio-diesel alone, still that is great for a 2000+lb vehicle with a 1.9L TDI engine, in fact I think its a world record for that particular engine. Here is the spec sheet on the car EVX GT

So what did you end up self measuring for your car on the track? 86mpgUS? It was really windy. Right in the face all the way down the back straight.
.
Was the EVX car the orange FactoryFive car this year? The Orange car ran without the electric this year so maybe the 160 from last year was including an unaccounted for 7KW from the batteries which is about energy equivalent to .2? gallons of diesel.

[sendler]

Originally Posted by geomartin

I would like to find more of these competitions, it seems that most are on the east or west coast and none in the midwest. Any suggestions?

It is a growing sport. Maybe you can organize something in your area. There is no way to match the scale of the event that Bob has put together in Watkins Glen though. There must have been 50 volunteers and I wouldn't even want to guess how much it costs to rent the track for the day. I will definitely be back with an even better vehicle next year.

[geomartin]

Originally Posted by sendler

So what did you end up self measuring for your car on the track? 86mpgUS? It was really windy. Right in the face all the way down the back straight.
.
Was the EVX car the orange FactoryFive car this year? The Orange car ran without the electric this year so maybe the 160 from last year was including an unaccounted for 7KW from the batteries which is about energy equivalent to .2? gallons of diesel.

We actually achieved 84.?? MPG US on the track, which is quite good for a 4 door sedan. We did have the vehicle tested at an EPA lab and got the city and highway numbers of 64/76. The EVX car was the same car as last years, just different paint (orange this year). The car can run 50+ miles on batteries alone and there is no way that the Green Grand Prix can measure how many KWH were used in the plug in hybrids.

[MetroMPG]

(Admin note: merging this "who's going to GGP" thread into the earlier thread about the event that sendler started...)

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by sendler

Did you compete?

Not this year. I have retired undefeated (EcoModder Takes Home 3 Wins at the Green Grand Prix -- note that year 99.7 MPG was the best overal fuel economy in 2009 - this year it was 128.x -- competition is improving the breed!)

I need an Ecomodder t-shirt and some stickers.

Drat - I even had some decals with me that I was giving out. PM me your mailing address and I'll put a couple in the mail for you.

Next year we'll have to do something like tattoo the EcoModder logo on our foreheads so we know which of the attendees & competitors are on the forum.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by geomartin

sendler, I was the guy in the X-Prize Chevy Metro diesel conversion.

geomartin - it was good to meet you. I was with a couple of other forum members who talked to you about your car in the garage immediately after the awards, just before you fired it up and drove around to your trailer.

I'm the guy who asked you (among other things) about air flow reattachment on your custom trunk lid extension. (Correct answer: "of course there is flow re-attachment!" )

I also asked if you had a web page about the car. (And I'm also the guy who doesn't have a smart phone so couldn't point it at the magic blob you had posted on the side of the car.) If you do, please post it.

[sendler]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Next year we'll have to do something like tattoo the EcoModder logo on our foreheads so we know which of the attendees & competitors are on the forum.

Some printed poster board for us to display would be a good way to promote the site so that we can all get together here online afterwards. Maybe even just post a file that we can print ourselves to bring with us. I am surprised, of the 40 competitors, 40 co drivers, and various other aficionados attending, there are just 3 or 4 of us posting on Ecomodders. I wonder where the rest of the people post? A good goal for next year would be to talk every team into posting at least a hello here after the event.