Event News
Event News - Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Greetings,
First, thank you all again for your thoughtful, sentient input. It certainly does make the process of developing this venue more invigorating, and involving. And in a good way! Many of the points and concerns raised by the community will have a direct bearing on future ePower Challenges and certainly have influenced my formats for this year’s event as well. Great points and stirring “reminders,” thanks.
Here’s what the latest brain storming has produced, by yourselves and I.
No drafting allowed. This may make it to the races in the future, but let’s start it out this way.
- You are allowed to stop and make road side repairs during the race. Pull off to the side so as to not present a danger to fellow riders. If there is an incident that requires medical assistance or help due to a significant vehicular compromise, we will have course marshals observing the races and will aid accordingly. There are no penalties for road side activities; it is simply a time loss to the competitor.
- Stopping in the pit area for making repairs and adjustments is allowed. Time loss is the only penalty.
***** NOTE*****
All battery replacement/repair issues must be done in the pit area!
Distances for the eCAT divisions are as follows:
- eCAT 1
24 V @ 12/14/18 amp hours 12 miles (6 laps)
36 V @ 12/14/18 amp hours 18 miles (9 laps)
48 V @ 12/14/18 amp hours 24 miles (12 laps)
- eCAT 2
24 V @ 20/24/30 amp hours 20 miles (10 laps)
36 V @ 20/24/30 amp hours 30 miles (15 laps)
48 V @ 20/24/30 amp hours 40 miles (20 laps)
As you may recall, the varying amp hour ratings within each voltage division reflects the different battery chemistries to be used. The lowest amp hours are for lithium batteries, the next is for NiCad and NiMh batteries, and the large number is for lead acid batteries.
My reasoning for not using watt hours as a basis for category guidelines (at least for this year) is derived from the thought that to configure a system to a specific watt hour system would likely require a contestant to amend their packs by either voltage or amp hours on the batteries, in any case, complicating or probably adding an investment to the competitor. Most folks are already configured in some manner and I am trying to accommodate the majority of the pre-existing set ups. And because of the close proximity to the race date, it might prove very difficult for contestants to acquire additional batteries and the accompanying electronics quickly. By simply adjusting the race distances to better match the watt hour consumption for the varying voltage categories, seems to be a quick and easy way to even out the issues of on board power.
The calculated amp hour sizes, along with their respective voltages, was done with regard to several factors (as we have discussed several times). Battery chemistry differences (differences within same chemistries too), V sag, peukert effect, weight, rates of C, etc, all have an influence in the end product of useable power and it’s affect on an e-bike. Coupled with the fact I do not want to have a competitor run their batteries into the red zone (damage) intentionally. We want folks to be happy about endorsing this venue with their participation, not worrying that they will “smoke” their bikes. The allowed watt hours, if combined with a “fair amount of human input”, should insure a participant that they will not fully discharge their batteries. That said, if no human input is engaged, well, it is far more likely you will exhaust your electrical “stoker”.
My watt hour consumption formula was derived from tables and information from several sources within the e-bike community; two of those sources are very well respected engineers and manufacturers of e-bike products. They base their data of watt hour consumption upon their experience of design, thorough testing, and the real world application of e-bike products, theirs and others. Both independently concurred on the same watt hours used per mile, when applying the motor power full time and supplementing the total sum with moderate human effort. And both agreed, again independently, what the electrical consumption rates were if the human element were eliminated. It was from within those highly experienced and knowledgeable parameters that I approximated my race “energy” formats.
If anyone fathoms further ideas about this year’s event, including what we’ve discussed so far or matters not yet broached (logistics, places to eat, other important stuff), throw them out to the forums and we’ll hash it out. Thanks.
The road less traveled,
Tom
Event News - Thursday, May 1, 2008
Greetings all,
The Oregon Human Powered Vehicle group, who organizes and runs the Human Power Challenge event in
The Human Power Challenge is an event that was developed to showcase the proficiency of the recumbent style of bicycle, not that we don’t embrace all types of cycling (uprights are all very welcome to join in the fun), it was simply that an oversight was committed many years ago to exclude recumbents in any “official” bike race. The HPC event is unlike any other venue in the country, primarily due to the fact we have several racing formats available to the racing enthusiast (drag racing to time trialing), and that we have the honor of holding our event on a world class Indy car race track, Portland International Raceway (PIR). PIR, which by the way, just received a brand new resurface this last fall in time for this years racing season. And as a bonus to our all around “clean weekend of racing”, we hold our event in conjunction with an Electrathon America event that occurs at the same time. Very cool!
So you can see, we are very much into the mindset that revolves around alternative transportation. Being an ardent advocate of e-assist cycling, it has been a goal of mine to help bring this new mode of personal transportation into the general public’s “awareness radar,” giving this cool means of getting around a platform on which to be seen.
I have followed the forums regarding the topic of e-assist racing and have observed the variety of suggestions put forth by the community, and have settled on a “starting point” on which to build from. The ePower Challenge (tentative name), will be a venue built upon the premise that these types of vehicles are “power assist” bicycles, not electric motorcycles. I understand and appreciate the folks that want to develop the ultimate power bikes (that’s cool, it’s all good), but at this venue we are going to be advocates of showing off to the public the viability and forward thinking aspects of how personally and socially empowering these types of vehicles are, and thus will be setting limits on how much “assist” you can derive from your electrical beastie. Of course, the surest way of keeping everyone on an even playing field would be to hook up a watt/hour meter on every bike and limit the usage to a certain amount for a certain distance of race. You would then get to figure out your own “consumption” formula (volts, amps drawn, etc), but until the race gets lots’o extra $’s to outfit each racer with such a device, we’ll need to have some rough justice applied.
There will be two race distances; you may compete in either or both. The first (eCAT 1) will be 12 laps around the track, a distance of slightly less than 24 miles. The second (eCAT 2) will be 20 laps, a little under 40 miles. These will be races of governed attrition; with next to pretty much full throttle and a reasonable amount of human input, they should prove to be interesting contests.
Because homebuilts and kits can be tailored to just about any configuration and the commercial e-bikes come in fairly standard flavors and we want to promote both, we will make divisions of racers based upon voltage supplied and amphours of batteries. Bikes can have as a voltage supply, 24, 36, or 48 volt source, each voltage being in their own category. Naturally, when you charge up a pack, you’ll have a pack voltage greater than, for example, exactly 24. So pack limits are 30, 45, and 60 when freshly charged up.
The amphours (here comes real rough justice), will vary slightly with different battery chemistries and their performance abilities. Everyone who has purchased a particular energy system should not be forced to financially reinvest into a system just to compete. I think we can accommodate everyone’s rig, to a fair degree, and keep things competitive (remember, there is supposed to be some human element involved!) Because of peukert effect, weight, power and energy densities, typical pack availabilities, etc, a decently comparable battery sizing/rating format for the eCAT 1 race would be; 12 amphrs max for any Lithium chemistry, 14 amphrs nicad or nimh, and 18 amphrs for lead. The eCAT 2 race would increase to 20 amphr rating for Li, and 24 amphrs for nickel based, and 30 for lead (even though I kinda doubt anyone would want to haul around a 48 V , 30 amphr pack!).
All vehicles will be checked for voltage levels at the start of the race and a visual confirmation of the battery manufacturer amp hr rating must be available for inspection. Racers must also wear a nationally approved cycling helmet, have at least one side mirror mounted on helmet or bike, and have two independent brakes. One last thing, in accordance to the agreement stipulated on the insurance, we will also be limiting the motors used to conform to a 750 watt continuous power rating that should be visibly marked on the motor casing, no switchero of stickers folks. Too many of us know what to look out for. The 750 watt limit is to “honor” the Fed output limit and will showcase to the public what amazing things can be done with that amount of assist. Of course you can certainly use a less powerful motor, it could be an advantage!
The schedule: because we have for years utilized the track primarily on Saturday and Sunday for the HPV races, Monday has always been open for rain out days. Therefore, Monday morning will be the race day for both eCAT 1 and the eCAT 2 races. Please be there by 8:30, the races will take place soon thereafter. We do have open track practice times on both Saturday and Sunday that the assists may test and show off their rigs, as well as lots of time to play around/hobnob on the infield area for those days too.
We know this is short notice (because we just received the final approvals last week) but we want to get this out there this year anyway. The Human Power Challenge and now the ePower Challenge will be held on Memorial Weekend, May 24th through the 26th, in
For more details on the HPC ’08 and for further information regarding any of the races, visit www.ohpv.org/HPC/index.html and for email correspondence write to: PIRhumanpower@comcast.net. Hope to hear some input and hope you can join us here for the weekend.
Ciao,
Thomas Breedlove
Director of the HPC ‘08
Event News - Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Portland International Raceway has been repaved and reconfigured during the off season. With the new surface PIR had an opportunity to upgrade the safety aspects of the track with new curbing and improved drainage too. The most notable configuration change is the last corner prior to the back straightway (going clockwise). This corner has been significantly widened and made “tighter” in its turn radius. It should be fun and a great new change. The greatest improvement that will affect our race is the sheer smoothness of the surface with no cracks or creases in the main loop. IT’S SWEET! For more details or a video which takes you on a lap around the track go to Portland International Raceway website www.portlandraceway.com. Click here also to see the new track map with corner details.
New Sponsors Join Human Power Challenge:
The 2008 Human Power Challenge race committee is pleased to announce the addition of three new sponsors to this year’s event. Full Sail Ale a microbrewery located in
Team Estrogen out of
Good steeds need proper shoes shod on them and we are lucky to have one of the best bike shoe makers on the planet as one of our new sponsors. Schwalbe Tires is donating a “swag” package to a lucky raffler. This package will include a front and rear tire along with tubes and rim tape to complete the overhaul. Ahh, nothing like fresh new rubber spinning on your wheels!
Thanks again to our new sponsor friends and a special thanks to all our returning sponsors! Please check our sponsor page to view this year’s sponsors.
Trike News:
Trikes have many advantages. You can keep your feet on the pedals when you stop, you can haul massive loads with big trailers much easier, and RACE! Trike riders are invited to bring out their rigs to PIR and they can compete in a Trike division within any of the race categories of Stock, Super-Stock, Super-Street or Streamliner. Awards will be given separately to Trikes for each individual event (i.e. Time Trial). However, in the Overall Points Championships, they will be grouped along with the two-wheeled vehicles in each category of Stock, Super-Stock, Super-Street, or Streamliner.
Drag Race Not in Overall Points Pool:
Feedback from racers last year was that people wanted more opportunity to race multiple times in the “Drag Race.” This event will be held again in the main infield but this year racers will be able to race against any vehicle classification. You and your Stock bike want to take on “That” person in their Super-Stock? Go for it! Race as many folks as you like, in whatever rig they run. Race the same person again! We want to insure that everyone gets to have more than just one run if they want too, and go head to head against all the power pushers they’d like. We will have placings and awards for each of the categories though based upon elapsed times recorded during the race. We have acquired the use of an “electric tree” to start and stop the timing of the each racer as they cross the line. Hey, the tree can even “DQ” you if you start too soon! Times will be recorded and placings can then be assessed and awarded.
Therefore the committee also decided that the Drag Race would no longer be a part of the Overal Points Championships. The Drag Races will continue to be very competitive but will also encompass a more social atmosphere. The three events that will determine the Overall Points Championships will be the Time Trial, Road Race, and 200 Meter Flying Sprint.
Tentative Site for LCVMG 2009
That’s a long acronym, what’s it stand for? For the uninitiated (which you are now no longer) it means the Left Coast Velomobile Gathering. AH HA! The LCVMG is currently in its third year since its inception and has been held annually in
For more information regarding velomobiles go to the LINKS page to access a velomobile website.
2008 Promotional Event Flyer
Event News - Saturday, June 2, 2007
Race Results Now Available!
Check out the Race Results and Photos from 2007 Human Power Challenge!
Message from the Race Director - Thomas Breedlove
WOW!
What a fabulous time we had at PIR this year, as chronicled by the plethora of fotos and video that has already made their way to the internet, and by the follow up of ( I can't wait to see ), a ton more visual representations of the spectacle we were a part of! Thanks guys and gal friends for the reports, keep them coming in! It's fun to relive the moments of the weekend, and especially from someone else's view. Even more cool is that we get to share with the world (the unfortunate souls who couldn't make it) the unabridged great time we had racing, test riding each others contraptions, discovering new theories and design concepts (nerds like me !), and just plain old hanging out and laughing with each other. This stuff is irreplaceable my friends!
If I do a lengthier writeup in the future, it will be a couple of days before I get to it, just wanna let my brain "cell" ( singular), rest a bit. But by all means, I would like to hear the chatter from the folks out there their recollections of all things Human Power Challenge! Your two cents is invaluable!
For now tough, before too much time slips away and I forget to say,,,, I have to say, thank you, from me to you, and from everyone to everyone! I want to thank and salute the race participants for their spirit and dedication to the sport and the lifestyle they choose to embrace! I want to thank the sponsors of the event for their generous gifts that help us celebrate, empower, and grow our conscientious community!( please check out our sponsor page ) And without a doubt, we simply couldn't make any of this happen without the time ,efforts, and truely awesome participation of the volunteers! I wish I could sit here and name and thank each of you who helped during the event, but I would mess it up somehow. Can I simply state that to all who helped lend a hand, from helping set up courses, to lap counting, to registration desk help, to gate crossing guards, to taking pictures, to corner marshalling, to providing tents and equipment, to bringing food and refreshments, to waving flags at the finish line, and to the unabashed zealousy of the bike bell ringers who celebrated the passing of each rider as they flew by,,, I/We say, YOU/WE ARE THE BEST and I/WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT US !!! How's zat?!
And natch, to the HPC committee members who shepherd and help bring structure to this event, Edna and Dave VanGundy, Todd Marley and Lonnie Morse, your dedication to our world and the benefits we reap from your presense is incalculable! To all those reading this out there in Cyber world, make sure to heap vast amounts of accolades and kudos upon these people, they deserve your praise!
To the other Director of this event, my wife Beth, I can't thank enough. Her efforts were/continue to be, SUPERHUMAN !!! You folks just don't know how many countless hours she has poured into assuring us we succeed in having an incredible weekend of excitement, and at the same time , helping to lay the foundation for monumental growth and recognition of our event, in the years to come. And heck, she doesn't even ride a recumbent! Again, when thinking about "credit where credit is due and well earned", Elizabeth deserves our utmost gratitude and thanks. Accolades and kudos galore!!
Great job, well done all! Beth and I salute you all for your participation and contribution to the HUMAN POWER CHALLENGE !
See you in '08.
Tom and Beth
Event News - Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Reminder the deadline for race registration is Wednesday , May 23, 2007. REGISTER NOW to take advantage of the early registration fee of $40.
Pat Franz of TerraCycle, Inc. has provided an official link with more details on the TerraCycle Open House scheduled for Saturday, May 26 starting at 7:00 PM. Click here to for more detailed information www.terracycle.com/partymap.htm.
Event News - Sunday, April 8, 2007
Dana Lieberman of Bent Up Cycles in Van Nuys, California, has offered a new twist to his sponsorship this year. Up for grabs are cash payouts to any Velokraft racer who finishes in the top 3 of the stock class vehicles overall point winners in the "mens" division. The cash awards will be $300 for first place finish, $200 for second place finish, and $100 for third place finish.
So if you have a VK2 or a NoCom in your stable, this challenge may be just what you're looking for. Thanks Dana for the cool bonus, it's always fun to have "extra" racing motivation to spur on our buddies. As a side note Dana, have a great ride on your Oregon Coast tour. It will be an unbelievably beautiful voyage for you and your traveling partners. Let us know, the OHPV folks, if there any way we can assist or enhance your visit.
Event News - Friday, March 8, 2007
Pat Franz of TerraCycle, Inc. is offering racers his place of business if they need to ship their vehicles to the HPC event. If you are interested in shipping your vehicle, please contact Pat at (503) 231-9798 or (800) 371-5871.