Parallel Pass Dragway 1/24 scale

Brought to you by:
Lowe's
&
M&T  Bank

What it is...
An electric vehicle dragstrip spanning 1000 feet in 1/24 scale. 

Where is the funding for such a build coming from?
The Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant
&
PTO Today, Inc.
 
An excited "Thank You" to all the supporting organizations for making this a reality!

Here is a little appetizer:
A group of 5th - 8th grade students began building their electric car chassis at the end of last year in anticipation for the opening of our very own track!  Mr. Plewinski has already (and continues to) explored other "Alternative Fuel Vehicles" such as; Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, H2O and CO2.  What was missing? Electric.  With the recent release of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, we felt that this is a perfect opportunity to explore and explain how electric vehicles work and how these types of vehicles can positively impact our planet.   

This is where the Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant will help fill this vacancy.  The "Parallel Pass Dragway" will/can be a 1/8, 1000' or 1/4 mile track with a professional Trackmate Timing System similar to one that is used at local Dragstrips!  We will be able to set Dial-In time's and various other options with this system.  I cannot stress the word professional enough, with this excellent system/program.

Not only will we be able to race our creations but we will learn that there is quite-a-bit of knowledge behind such fun.  The students will explore the elements of vehicle design with the aid of science.  Discussions/explanations/demonstrations on velocity, speed, physics, aerodynamics, chassis geometry, scale, basic electric wiring, timing and other related topics will be covered.

The students vehicles will be in the 1/24 scale.  The students will build/mount/paint their individual or group vehicle, using various materials that have not been used in Art or Technology.  Each vehicle will be approximately 7.5"- 8.0" in length.  The HO scale (approximate car length is 3") is nice, but these bigger vehicles are quick, detailed, and when painted with care and precision, look amazing!

There will be a page dedicated to this ongoing project: build photos, participants, upcoming events, results, outside-our-school invitational announcements.  We are currently waiting to be approved for more server space to include a larger phot section.  Stay tuned...