World Fuel Ecomony Championships

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I read this as people getting together to burn gas for no other purpose than to prove something about their fuel economy. It was even referred to as a "new type of motor sport" in the posting.

Learning how best to achieve high fuel economy in daily driving is best done in daily driving conditions, when the fuel is burned for a necessary trip from point a to point b.

I do not buy the stated purpose as there is loads of information available already on how best to drive these vehicles.

I am sorry but this just reminds me of postings I have seen where people have driven unnescessary circuits around their neighborhoods just to increase their tank averages.

 

In these 'races', people win with 150+ MPG with their prii, I don't know how they'd do it. Driving 30 MPG?

 

Sounds like a good idea to me. Manufacturers participate in motor sports because it sells cars. If events like this catch on and raise awareness and excitement about fuel efficient vehicles resulting in more sales, then the amount of fuel expended in the event is more or less irrelevant.

Rob

 

I bet the electric car wins!

 

This sounds very interesting. Exciting even, if you get off on watching grass
grow. I am looking forward to seeing what the MPG numbers are, and with
luck a detailed report on the techniques used, etc. Dare I hope that someone
will pick it up for a televised report; Science Channel, MotorWeek, etc?

As to the probability that the course will be run at 30 MPH or so; to bring the
results somewhat close to reality, I'd like to see a highway "section" of say
30 miles that has to be completed at an average speed of 55 MPH. The MPG
nubers there would really get my juices flowing.

Lastly, I note that all the advertised competitors are from the US of A. It
makes me wonder why it HAS to be called a World Championship. It sounds
so "Ugly American" to my ear. Yes, I understand that the name anticipates a
more geographically diverse competition in the future.

But really, what's wrong with a National, or North American Championship?
Later there could be World Cup style regional competitions, and a real World
Championship.

 

Rokeby, do you refuse to watch the baseball World Series?

 

Bill,

Dont get me wrong, I said nothing about not watchng due the insensativity/
outrageousness of the competition's name. I do watch the championship series
of American baseball. And usually enjoy myself immensely despite our beloved
O-ree-ohs being far out of the running in recent decades.

I also watch other athletic competitions. My favorites: the Olympics, bicycle racing --
especially the Giro, Tour, and Velta (sp?), all national competitions -- and curling,
what a hoot!

 

Some people have no idea, Sport isn't for watching it is for participating. I think an event like this would be exciting to participate in.

I never understood what watchers get from sport.

 

Basically I agree with you, having been involved in soccer into my fifth
decade. By any chance, do you play Australian Rules Football?

Again, I couldn't agree more, although I will be the first to acknowledge
that my FE/MPG skills are far below world class.

Why to vicariously experience, as the late Jim McKay of ABC Sports and a
native of Ballamer would say, "The thrill of victory, and the agony of
defeat."

(Personally, I try to minimize the agony of da feet by wearing Birkenstocks
for as many of my waking/walking hours as is possible.)

 

Sounds like a fun event, although I agree that calling it the world championship is a stretch, CleanMPG Invitational is a more fitting name for the event.

Scanning the cmpg thread it looks like the organizer of hybrid fest and our own fireengineer weren't invited, which seems weird given both of their dedication and efforts towards education and conservation. They obviously can invite whoever they want, but...

 

Hypermilers currently scheduled to appear

• Al Walker (Hobbit) Boston, MA -- Winner of the NJ “Tour to the Shore – Prius Class†FE Challenge.
• Andrew McGuckin (PaleMelanesian) Longview, TX -- Recent overall winner of the 3-month Fuel Economy Challenge.
• Auston Hensley (Lamebums) Covington, KY -- Hypermiling 3-Month FE Challenge coordinator.
• Bob Winger (Bob Winger) VA -- Second highest HCH-II LMPG in the country.
• Brian Morris (BailOut) Reno, NV -- Most fuel efficient Yaris driver on the planet.
• Chuck Thomas (Delta Flyer) Dallas, TX -- Nationally known Honda Insight promoter.
• Dan Bryant (Dan) Houston, TX -- Achieved 106 mpg at the HF2007 FE Challenge.
• Debbie Anders (DebbieKatz) Milwaukee, WI -- Recent 51 mpg tank in an FEH. Enough said.
• Jerad Parish (Locutus) Madison, WI -- Winner of the HF2007 FE Challenge at 110 mpg.
• Jud Engles (Bestmapman) Cincinnati, OH -- Participant in the Lacey, WA FE Challenge.
• Justin Fons (Citrus Insighter) Pewaukee, WI -- Insight Marathon and HF2006 FE Challenge participant.
• Ken Gordon (SlowHands) Elk Grove Village, IL -- 1908 to 2008 - 100th year anniversary Greatest Automobile Race reenactment participant.
• Special guest to be named later
• Mike Sirach (Msirach) Harrisburg, IL -- Prius, HCH-II and Insight owner
• Rani Cardona (Tarabell) Los Angeles, CA -- Wrote the book on “Basic Hypermiling Techniques for the HCH-II.â€
• Sean Welch (Right Lane Cruiser) Coon Rapids, MN -- Owner/Admin CleanMPG.com.
• Wayne Gerdes (Xcel) Wadsworth, IL -- Owner/Admin CleanMPG.com.
• Wayne Bellas (GreenBlues) Camp Douglas, WI -- Owner HCH-I and Insight.
• Larry Trowbridge (Diamondlarry) Elkhart, IN -- Achieved (3) 1,000 mile + tanks in his 07 Prius.

There were more invitations extended but not all proposed drivers could participate.

First pass of scores...

The results of the first three Prius runs are:
Hobbit-118
Ken-121
Rani-97.9

The FEH:
Dan-72.1

Insight:
Justin-145.9
Andrew-150.0
Jud-144.7​

I'll try to keep all the threads updated. This is a cross-post, so apologies and disclaimers for any violation of netiquette.

Cross-Posts

CleanMPG - 2008 World Fuel Economy Championships
GreenHybrid - 2008 World Fuel Economy Championships - Scores
EcoModder - 2008 World Fuel Economy Championships - Scores
​

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Great mileage! can you share some of your secrets for those of us unable to attend a fuel mileage rally? I think I'm doing well to be over 50mpg, mixed driving.
A lot depends on terrain, of course, and I've altered my routes to and from work to maximize the average mileage by avoiding hills.

 

Can we have a class/seminar in this stuff at Hybridfest please?

 

HOLY CRAP, YOU MEAN THERE IS A COMPETITION THAT INVOLVES WASTING FUEL TO ACHIEVE THE BEST FUEL ECONOMY. PURE GENIOUS.

Sorry, I got a little excited.