April 20, 2007 Vol. 77, no. 12S

REAL TIME PROBLEM SOLVING: Team members make adjustments in preparation for a test run on a quiet side street at Richmond Field Station. RACHEL SHAFER PHOTO

Supermileage team gets ready for big race in June
Students hope improved vehicle design will put them in the top three

Cal’s Supermileage Vehicle Team spent Saturday, April 7, preparing for an upcoming exhibition race in southern California. The 15 dedicated members have been working all year on an improved vehicle (new shape, steering and fairing) that they hope will put them among the top three teams worldwide at the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Supermileage Competition in June. Each year, the team designs and races a one-person, single-cylinder vehicle designed to run on the best mileage per gallon (mpg). Think fuel efficient. Super fuel efficient. Last year, the team’s vehicle logged 628 mpg during its best run. The club is always looking for new members of any major and skill level.

For more information, go to http://smv.berkeley.edu.

 

IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT: Above, ME junior Mayra Chavolla is the team’s designated driver. RACHEL SHAFER PHOTO

LOW RIDER: Above, Chavrolla practices driving the vehicle, from steering and braking to the team’s all important “burn and kill” strategy, where the driver accelerates, turns the vehicle off and lets it coast until it begins to lose momentum. Then she turns it on again. RACHEL SHAFER PHOTO

GROUP EFFORT: Above, the team poses with an older version of its vehicle. The group is currently working on an updated version that it will race in the Supermileage Competition held in June in Michigan. RACHEL SHAFER PHOTO

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