CHARLES TOWN — The Chariho Career Technical Center Racing Team is set to prove it's a team to beat at the school's annual Green Racing Initiative hosted by Chariho on Monday morning at Ninigret Park in Charlestown. It only took a few laps.
In the first heat, the Chariho car set the pace at an incredible school record top speed of 31 mph, lapping many of the other eight competitors (including two twice) and decisively taking the 1st place. I finished in 1st place.
However, things changed completely in the next heat. Due to an unknown mechanical failure, the car's power was cut off, forcing it to pit for emergency on-site repairs. While students will appreciate the additional win, Ryan Northup, electrical technology instructor at Chariho Technical College, said the additional challenges will give students valuable hands-on learning experience they wouldn't otherwise have. said that it can be done.
“This was a great performance, with our students achieving a top speed of 16 miles per hour, more than any other team,” Northup said. “We also got to see what happens when an engine fails. That's the type of experience you can't recreate in a classroom.”
Now in its third year, the Green Power Electric Vehicle Challenge attracts both instructors and students, with a small program of five teams held in October and the final annual competition held at Ninigret Park Racecourse in May. It has become a valuable tool for. The Greenpower Electric Car Challenge encourages students to compete against other schools through real-world science, technology, engineering and math skills.
Monday's program included Chariho and eight other teams from public and private schools in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Students also organized a food truck festival with five businesses as part of the program and provided race analysis including lap times and speed monitoring.
Chariho Teach hospitality instructor Don Fair said the program provides a real-world application for participating students to test skills and techniques across many disciplines. He said students were responsible for the entire event, from securing and installing the necessary equipment and staffing along the course to organizing the pit crew area and even planning the food and beverages, including securing permits if necessary. It is said that he planned.
“One aspect of this is that you get real-world experience navigating the issues and challenges that come with hosting an event,” Fair said. “They can directly address the problem and use it to advance their education and career.”
As a participant, Chariho junior and electrical engineering student Lucas Holloway Jr. said the event provides motivation, an important end goal, and a team goal to keep students motivated. Told.
Holloway said his personal experience working with engines themselves helped shape his ambitions and provided him with an area of expertise to focus on within electrical engineering.
“It pushes you to do something different and take on unique, creative roles that may be outside your usual comfort zone,” Holloway said. He said the program itself was fun as well.
“It's fun to challenge yourself and think about what you can do to make the car go faster,” he added. “It's a great experience working to solve problems.”
Chariho High School Principal Andrea Spas said it has been gratifying to see the program progress over the past few years. The event started with a few local schools trying something new and has since grown into a popular annual event across the region.
“This is a great collaborative effort and a way for schools across the region to come together, support each other and provide greater opportunities for future generations,” Mr Spas said.
