Getting CRATE Results!
January 28, 2024
The very first CRATE to hit the track in competition brought home the overall win in a field of 10 cars on a half-mile course in Jacksonville, Florida. This CRATE was entirely stock but with the optional 13 tooth motor sprocket and the standard 57 tooth rear and was running three Interstate DCM0035 batteries.
At the end of the two hours of racing it was 20 laps (10 miles!) ahead of second place and had averaged approximately 30mph.
A great first result!
March 20, 2024
Monroe Area High School finished 5th out of 70+ cars with their CRATE at the Georgia TSA state competition. Congratulations on a great result!
April 6, 2024
The CRATE hit the track again this time in Pensacola, Florida on a half mile, banked, stock car track and once again brought home the big trophy. In a field of 26 cars (including some lithium powered) it completed 132 laps in 2 hours of racing besting second place by ten laps (5 miles!) and was the overall winner.
It was once again running three Interstate DCM0035 batteries but with a 13/55 sprocket setup and the newly offered motor heat sink for additional motor cooling.
Not bad for a budget-minded, bolt-together kit car!
April 27, 2024
Well I feel like I finally found the limit of this little motor and controller combo. I went to a race In Jacksonville, FL on a very rough and twisty parking lot track with approximately 10-12 feet of elevation change. THE CRATE was running a 13/59 sprocket ratio but was having trouble maintaining speed up the hills. It used less than 23 amp/hours of battery capacity (I can usually get 26 amp/hours out of my packs) due to the controller not having a high enough current limit. In the end it took second place out of 11 cars and was 2 laps behind the winner at the end of the two hours of racing. It also suffered some minor nose damage from a bit of a snarl in a congested corner when the car in front broke their steering and caused a bit of havoc among those of us in the immediate vicinity. The styrofoam nose really does absorb impact nicely though. I always intended to offer a more powerful motor and controller as an upgrade option and I think this experience may be the impetus to get that started.
September 01, 2024
The CRATE traveled to south Florida to race INDOORS in conjunction with the Miami International Auto Show. The track was just under a half-mile per lap of polished concrete with 12 turns including two hairpins. Still running the stock drivetrain with a 11/59 sprocket combo, the CRATE ran problem-free and won overall by two laps out of a field of 13 cars. The many twists and turns limited top speed so I geared low for max acceleration out of the corners. It definitely paid off but would have been better yet if the driver (me) hadn’t weighed in at 215 lbs. :( Traction was a bit of a problem for everyone on the slick concrete but it made for an exciting and enjoyable event. The air-conditioning was especially nice!
The CRATE wins again!
November 8th, 2024
Cook High School took 3rd out of 25 cars with their CRATE in the lead-acid race at the Georgia TSA Fall Leadership Conference. Stock 11:57 gearing and a very tidy coroplast body. Great work from a brand new team!
November 8th, 2024
Creekview High School placed 4th out of 25 cars with their CRATE in the lead-acid race at the Georgia TSA Fall Leadership Conference. Stock 11:57 gearing and a 36v pack.
November 8th, 2024
Dade County High School took 2nd out of 25 cars with their CRATE in the lead-acid race at the Georgia TSA Fall Leadership Conference. Stock 11:57 gearing and a eye-catching color scheme.
November 8th, 2024
Johns Creek High School placed 5th out of 25 cars with their modified CRATE in the lead-acid race at the Georgia TSA Fall Leadership Conference. It ran with 16” wheels all the way around, a VESC controller, 12:73 gearing and an interesting composite nose.
November 8th, 2024
Chamblee High School placed 7th out of 25 cars with their CRATE in the lead-acid race at the Georgia TSA Fall Leadership Conference. It ran with stock 11:57 gearing and a very clean looking body design. Great work from a brand new and enthusiastic team!
November 8th, 2024
Not a CRATE but the granddaddy of them all…The Test Mule!
Jasper County High School took first place in the Lithium battery race at the Georgia TSA Fall Leadership Conference with the original CRATE prototype. The Test Mule put down 91 laps and was running a 48v pack with 11:60 gearing. It ran smooth and quiet and turned in a drama-free victory.
