North Platte High School

Monthly Report

January Report – Car S17 – “Hawk” the Greyhound
It’s the beginning of another great year of Power Drive.  The team began by working on plans for their new car.  This was an all out effort to find the best design.  We developed models from the design and then tested them.  Soon we realized that modifications were necessary.  From those results, our new car design was born.  Along the way, there have been some bumps, but all in all it has helped us to learn so much.  The team has become stronger through these troubles and learned about the need for commitment and how to communicate better with each other.

Our first step was to build the frame jig and then construct the frame members to fit the jig.  S17 has an aluminum frame.  We have also, created new battery box design so that the batteries will fit in a more efficient way.  We worked on completing the axle and installing it into the frame.  Complications arose when we wanted to attach a steel axle to the aluminum frame.  The team is very excited and can’t wait to see the car run on three wheels.  Our first push test will be performed January 31.  We will test the structure, braking, and cornering ability during our first push test.  All of the wiring is in, but not completely wired to all of the components.  The first week in February we will be driving with battery power.  We have reached our goals in a timely manner.  Our goals for next month are:  1.   complete the wiring to the components, 2.  detail the frame, 3.  put a body on to the car, and 4.  work on the new component project for the car.

February Report - Car S17 - "Hawk" the Greyhound
This month has been full of sparks and energy.  We managed to get the electrical system up and running.  This resulted in many of our loose ends in the car to get put into their place.  We now have a seat and E-meter in our car.  The team has been experiencing some minor problems, but like always, we managed to get them worked out and we became a closer-knit family.   Our team has had a few test runs through out this month.  Our main goal for March is having the car completed for the first rally.  In order to achieve this goal we will complete these items:  1.  Build and install the tail, 2.  Paint the exterior and install the decals, 3.  Install the padding and complete other details and 4.  Construct and fit the canopy to the car.

March Report - Car S17 - "Hawk" the Greyhound
March has been a very productive month for the North Platte Team.  We have attached the hood in a curvature that will give us less frontal area and better visibility.  The car’s hood is lowered from previous hoods and will have improved aerodynamics.  The axle has been designed in such a way that our steel axle can be attached to an aluminum frame.  The alignment angles are set to the correct settings.  The nose was also attached this month to complete the front end of the body.  Our tail gave us some problems but we fixed them and now are working on the tail light mounting fixture.  The tail section and the paint job will be completed by the end of this is month.  Our goal for April is to install padding and complete other details necessary for this car to compete in the first rally.

April Report - Car S17 - "Hawk" the Greyhound
Its rally time for the car and we have prepared the car for rallies at Hastings, Columbus, and West Point. Unfortunately the last two rallies were cancelled due to weather, so the team spent the weekend working on documentation.  We will have all decals on by the end of this month and be prepared for state.  The team will finish documentation and turn it in at the North Platte rally; April 19.  We also found that we enjoy being part of Power Drive and we bonded together as a team.  As a senior Alex has experienced much deeper insight this year and has enjoyed digging to the bottom of every involved process.  Alex said, “I have learned as much this year as he did all other years combined.”

January Report – Car A16 – “Snowflake”
It's the return of A16.  We began by analyzing our car to identify some areas in which we want to improve. The answers came by performing many tests and experiments.  Our team decided to improve the aerodynamic and mechanical features.  Presently, not much construction has been done because our efforts have been focused on the new car.   Construction will go into full swing in February.

We brainstormed an idea that in theory it would make the batteries run better than before. Some times ideas sound much better than they work. Although the system did not perform the way we wanted it to, we learned a lot from the testing. So far things have gone very well, and the goals for next month are:  1.  build a new axle, 2.  improve aerodynamics, and 3.  work on improving the brakes.

February Report - Car A16 - "Snowflake"
It has been a rough ride this month for the North Platte Power Drive team.  We started off by doing tests on A16 and making a plan for the 25 percent change.  We mapped out our plan for the 25 percent change and placed an order for parts, but the parts have been delayed and are not expected to be here until the middle of March.  The lack of parts has made it impossible to make the changes planed for A16.  We have pulled the wheels and replaced some of the spokes.  However, the team has not given up hope because we all have a lot of faith in our team and our coaches.  We plan to be back on track with this car soon.  Our next month goal is to make every attempt to get A16’s construction complete and reassembled so it may participate in the first rally.

March Report - Car A16 - "Snowflake"
The parts that were delayed from last month have arrived.  We have machined the spindles and steering knuckles.  Presently we are building a jig to assemble the steering knuckles properly.  The rims, spokes and hubs are complete and ready for the season.  The team continues to construct the axle. Then we will install the brakes.  We will place the axle and brake assembly in the car.  For next month we plan to complete the car and drive it in the Bulldog Classic on April 19. 

April Report - Car E16 - "Snowflake"
This car didn’t have much done to it this month, and it probably won’t be ran unless we wreck a car and need it run at Kearney and state rally.  This car has been moved to the exhibition class.

January Report – Car E15
To start this year off, we began by reviewing past ideas, projects, and summer plans that had been started by members of the power drive team. Putting all the ideas together, we were able to decide what type of design to pursue and how to fix all the little bugs.
 
We decided to run E15 in the Exhibition class.  The reason we put this car in the Exhibition class is because one of our seniors built this car his sophomore year, and would enjoy seeing it run one last time before he goes to college.  This will keep our team organized and working on how to improve the car.  The repairs and improvements have all gone fairly well. Our future goals are; 1.  improve the running status of the car and 2.  detail the car. This will be done in March as we are working on the other cars during February.

February Report - Car E15
Our team has been focusing their efforts on S17 so it is ready for the season.
Because of this, there hasn’t been much change to the E15. The team used the car for testing purposes.  We have reconditioned all the wheels and have them in perfect operating condition.  Our goals for this car are, 1.  Get this car up and running for the rally, just in case A16 isn’t, ready and 2.  Provide new drivers the practice needed before the rallies begin.

March Report - Car E15
There hasn’t been much change to E15 as our Power Drive Team has been concentrating on preparing S17 for the first rally.  All the tires are completed and ready for the rally season.  This car is being prepared for the first rally.   We would like to experiment with this car.  Our goal for April is to install decals and finish the details on the car.

April Progress Report – Car E15
This car is being readied for the North Platte rally and will race in the exhibition class this year.  It will be in the rally at Kearney and State so it is being prepared for the upcoming rallies.