How does hundreds of miles per gallon sound? Chisago Supermileage team does very well at state event

The Chisago Lakes high school’s Supermileage Team competed against 60 schools last week at Brainerd International Speedway, entering a total of four vehicles. The Wildcat teams earned a second place finish in the 85 percent ethanol category and a second place in the modified class. The Wildcats’ other car in the modified class had some late-build steering trouble. Chisago Lakes Instructor, Mike Sandell, supermileage team advisor, said this vehicle barely completed the six runs needed to earn a competition average, and finished fifth overall. The rivalry against the Willmar High School team in the Stock Class event was probably the story of the contest. Last year this Chisago Lakes team bested a team from Willmar on the second day of the two-day contest, when Chisago took home a first place. Sandell said that this year-- Willmar turned the tables and took first with a six-run average mileage beating Chisago Lakes’ 594.9 (six run average) miles per gallon. The stock class crew members are: Austin Letourneau, Josh Hughes and Kevin Barrett.

Their vehicle was built for the 2011 season and to use it in the 2012 events the drive system was rebuilt, designing a mechanical clutch. Sandell added that the students turned in the highest mileage of day one and the stock class entry also posted the highest mileage two-lap run of all vehicles on the track for the day at 820.27 mpg. Sandell commented, saying, “The team was hopeful to build on the 2011 results (two first place finishes and one third place), but after 14 hours of track time they were to find out they came a bit short.” The youngest “rookie” group comprised the E 85 class vehicle crew. Six students had not participated in the Supermileage Contest in the past, Sandell explained. Juniors Nicole Schmitz, Jack Thibodeau, Sam Shefers and freshmen Jake Schwelling, Erin Sandell and Jeanne Thibodeau built their vehicle from the ground-up, he said. They fared pretty well, with their second place finish in a class that’s been “owned” by Alden Conger High School for about 10 years.

“More importantly,” Sandell continued, “this entry made an improvement over previous teams with a school record mpg in this class, a high single run of 405.07 mpg.” The students on the team that took second in modified were: Alex Molina, Jordan Eng, Brandon Marvin and Karly Oehme. Students crewing the fifth place modified vehicle were Carson Eng, Austin Oehme, DJ Sagendorfer and Tyler Johnson. There were 104 vehicles that passed the technical inspection and were allowed to be on the track May 14 and 15. This annual contest is put on by the Minnesota Technology and Engineering Educators Association and this was the 24th year of the supermileage competition.