MPG Challenge, Lacey, WA May 5 2012
 

Come out and drive or ride this event if you are in the northwest. The route is about 90 miles of varied terrain. "Rankings" (non-competitive event, har, har, har) are by % over EPA combined numbers. Motor cycles are all grouped together.

This venue provides some great opportunities for you to learn from others, share with the public and feed your FE addiciton. It's a good time and the rest of the fair is really good as well.

Please be there by about 8:30am, all cars will be on course shortly after.

Link: http://www.ci.lacey.wa.us/living-in-...ve_energy_fair

It's a great event!
 

I'll be there. If I'm lucky it'll be with my new Prius c, if it gets here in time. The MPG Challenge starts and ends at the Lacey Alternative Energy Fair. EVs, bikes, Electrathon racing, solar installs--lots to see before and after the Challenge.

exact same day as the vetter challenge?????

i'd be there if not for that! can you move the date?

Irony
 

Does it strike anyone else as a ironic that gathering to drive a 90 mile route just for the sake of driving it competitively is not exactly a green behavior?

competitions and wars are the biggest drivers of innovations.

Grants and press releases are a great way to waste money, energy, and inure the American public into status quo.

Lacey MPG Challenge date
 

Unfortunately, we can't move it. It's part of a city event that's been on the first Saturday in May for over a decade--the Lacey Alternative Energy Fair.

If it's not green enough, I suppose we could have NASCAR here. Just kidding, competitions are another way to get the word out. Several thousand folks will be there and have the opportunity to learn a little about efficient driving.

I really want to attend this, but we get back about midnight the night before from vacation. I am working on the truck to get it ready. Doing a bellypan today/tomorrow, injectors and turbo swap, and maybe a temporary aeroshell.

It'd be great to see you there.
 

Believe me, I understand the impacts of families, vacations and such. Hope you can make it, or at least drop by. It's free.

Nice first post. You're kidding right? Gathering at a festival for a fuel economy challenge is a great way to prove and promote hypermiling. Hopefully the vehicles will be on display afterwards to generate press and raise awareness.

Green Behavior is exactly what it is, without a hint of irony, the driving is to test how much better we are getting on fuel economy...:D

Believe it or not, we haven't had any Prius in the event to date. Year one had two Insight I running the course, 103 by Wayne Gerdes and 113mpg by Billy from Pasco, WA IIRC. Keep in mind that cars and trucks are ranked against the EPA ratings. Though the hybrids may not do so well bettering EPA than non-hybrids, they can produce some eye popping raw numbers - which is very interesting to fair goers.

Not too many of these kind of events in the Northwest. Hope to see you all there.

Alas, no official EPA numbers for my truck.
EDIT: had anther setback regarding this event. I got my 7 hole injectors back from adjusting the pop pressure.
I tried to install them and discovered that one had a mangled core. I'll ship them back to the rebuilder and maybe get them back in time.

"Believe it or not, we haven't had any Prius in the event to date. "




EDIT : LAST YEAR's RESULTS -

MPG Challenge 2011 - Results!

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Data in the following order:
Name:, From:, Vehicle:, EPA Combined mpg:, Event mpg:, % Over EPA:

Doreen Miller, Tacoma WA, 2010 Toyota Prius, 50, 70.6, 41.2
Ed Miller, Tacoma WA, 2005 smart forTwo Diesel, 56(ish)*, 101 (164.4**), 80.4
Garth Lacomb, Olympia WA, 2006 Zongshen Sierra ZS200 (motorcycle), 70*, 90.4, 29(ish)
Christopher Brand, Olympia WA, 2007 Toyota Prius, 46, 64.4, 40
Stephen Christiansen, Rochester WA, 1999 Saturn SL2 (automatic, DOHC), 26, 41.5, 59.6
Brent Undesser, Lacey WA, 2009 Mazda5 (automatic), 23, 41.4, 80
Dean Payne, Shoreline WA, 2010 Toyota Prius, 50, 69.5, 39
Ron Johnston, Exshaw AB, Canada, 2007 Suzuki GS500F, 60*, 82.5, 37.5
Rachel Kouhsen, Lacey WA, 2007 Honda Civic EX (manual), 29, 50.25 (53.5**), 73.3



I'll be there again with the Saturn. Got the manual tranny swap done!

Please note: The event is May 5 this year--This coming Saturday.

The results posted on this thread are for last year.

All the best.

Fixed - sorry if there was any confusion people :)

Thanks for the correction hoopty yo. You are correct.

When I started this event I was expecting almost all hybrids. Astonishingly few are showing up for this event. Maybe they are all saving gas by simply staying home.

This years event is coming up soon. Try to make it, looks like we will finally have no rain!

what about a late start, around noon or so? will that disturb the force?

Skyking, I won't deny anyone to drive the course. You can start late, that is okay.

Logistically it becomes difficult if everyone starts whenever because the start/finish is timed to keep the pace more or less realistic. More importantly, the finish is announced to fair-goers to draw them over so you can explain exactly how you just happened to double the mileage they get from the same vehicle.

so get there by 8:30 with a topped tank, or go over after starting and top off?

Last year, we topped off within 1 mile before the event and within 1 mile before the finish, and bring your gas receipt.
Once again, there is some conflicting info. The Olympian is reporting registration between 9 and 10. See you at 8:30!

Had a great time today, nice to put some faces with the names.

so how did it go??? who "won"???

The fellow with the smartfortwo diesel last year returned. This time, his wife drove the course with their Prius and got about 70 MPG. another Prius turned in a 64. I managed a weak 23.9, using old 5 hole injectors. It will make a great baseline for next time ;)

I got 58.8 in the Saturn - Based on 31 combined (old number? new one says 27), I was 89% over.

Using 27, I would have been 117% over.
Last year was 26 because it was an auto (is that a mod, or is it a different car now?) :confused: Anyway, just for fun - +126% :):D:)

Glad you guys had a good time. I was stuck at the other end of the (small) park working and somehow I never got down the block. Next year.

All the best.