Students Assist with Car Fiberglassing

David Plotzke joined Dr. McElligott, Rick Hanson, and Adam Sizemore to fiberglass the walls of the 100 mpg car. The walls will become part of the passenger compartment in the vehicle.

Students Help Fit Body Panels

Riley Brande and David Plotzke helped our experts Adam Sizemore and Rick Hanson manipulate the fiberglass side panels which will protect the driver from the componants on each side of them. They also realligned the body.

 

Special Headliner Donation

The Evergreen Corporation donated a special headliner that will eventually become the inside wall to the 100 mpg car. Pictured are Rick Hanson and Adam Sizemore demonstrating the positioning of the headliner.

Research Club Finishes Welding on Car

Nico Radda helped with the final welding of the car frame to prepare it for sanding and painting.

Riley Brande Assists with Work on the 100 MPG Car at the "Car Build"

On Saturday, February 9, students worked on the assembly of the final hydraulic fuel lines. Research Club member Riley Brande attended the work session.

Fountain Hills Research Club has Two Entries in the Fountain Hills Thanksgiving Day Parade

Our 100 MPG race car apeared in the Thanksgiving Day Parade with Riely Brande in the seat. The Research Club sponsored their current projects for the parade, the 100 MPG race car and the new biofuel diesel car. Dr. Paul McElligott sponsors the club.

 

Engine Checks and Welding Car Heat Shields

Research Club members David Plotzke, Riley Brande, and Kari Smith all engaged in welding and checking the new muffler system on the 100 MPG car. Three videos on YouTube show all the action.

• Video One – Students studying the muffler as the car is tested in running mode.
• Video Two – David Plotzke welding.
• Video Three – Riely Brande welding.

 

100 MPG Car Work Continues for Thanksgiving Day Parade

David Plotzke and Riely Brande, students of the Fountain Hills Research Club, helped Adam Sizemore create fasteners for the exhaust system and power train. The club has been working on this car since last year. It will appear in the Thanksgiving Day parade.

 

 

 

Riley Brande and Peter Carillo come to the 100 MPG car build

Riley Brande and Peter Carillo of Fountain Hills High School help Adam Sizemore of Section Eight Engineering to complete the hydraulic fluid container for the 100 mpg car. The students learned a little welding along the way. Also in an attached video is a retest of the propane engine.

 

 

 

 

FHHS Notifies the Progressive X-Prize Committee of Intent

As of last week, I needed three green lights in order to declare if we would be a viable candidate in the X-Prize.

The X-Prize group needed me to commit to one fuel. They also need me to find a corporate sponsor to sign our competition contract. As of Monday we agreed to run selectively on methane by request of the X-Prize and we CCR Composites (Rick Henson) agreed to sign the contract.

As of last weekend, we had $4,000 in donations and were $1,000 short of the application fee. As of Wednesday, we received the missing amount.

On Thursday, January 30, an engineering meeting occurred between Rick Hanson and myself. We needed to make a major set of engineering decisions. One was how we would proceed if we went for the prize. One possibility was we would continue with a one-seat vehicle and build another car. If we did this, we would fund a second car and use the first for the test device. We could also rebuild the present car to be a two-seat vehicle. As of 7:00 p.m. last night, we elected to dual track a second car and increase fund raising to pay for the second car.

We have informed the Progressive X-Prize representatives as of 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 30 that we are faxing a Purchase Order and are awaiting the next step in the qualifying process.

The Research Club is eternally grateful to all the donors involved. Thank-you. We are speechless.

Dr. Paul McElligott

Research Club Receives Briggs and Stratton Engine

Both the Arizona Republic and the Fountain Hills Times were present for the presentation of the Briggs and Stratton Engine. The engine, which was demonstrated by Mr. Dick Carney of Briggs and Stratton, is a 140 cc, 12 hp. It will be used with mixed hydrogen and methane fuel in a hybrid system. The engine was ordered three weeks ago after the team of students and experts agreed to the power ranges.

Barnes and Noble Teams with Research Club

The Research Club has teamed with the Scottsdale Barnes and Noble book store to raise funds for the 100 mile per gallon alternative fuel car. We will had out special vouchers to school staff and community members the week before Valentine's Day. Barnes and Noble customers can redeem the vouchers upon check-out with a percentage of the profits going to the Research Club. We will hold presentations on both our alternative fuel cars at the store on February 14th. Thank you to Larry Siegel, community relations manager at the Scottsdale store, for his efforts.

 

Club Appears in National Magazine

The Research Club appears employing composites in its 100 mile-per-gallon car in the January 2009 edition of Composites Manufacturing. Be sure to check out the artice!