Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge

Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge
Genre Motorcycle rally/technology demonstration
Frequency Annually
Location(s) Ohio, California, Nevada
Inaugurated 1980
Founder Craig Vetter
Most recent July 13, 2014[1]
Next event October 11, 2014 (San Luis Obispo to Carmel, California)[2]
Website
Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge

The Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge is a motorcycle fuel efficiency contest created in 1980 by motorcycle fairing inventor Craig Vetter.[2] The contest was cited in Vetter's Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction.[3]

The contest initially ran from 1980 to 1985, with the inaugural run from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek, Colorado.[4] After a 25-year break, the contest resumed from 2011 with revised Vetter Fuel Challenge rules allowing for alternative fuel categories and requiring street usability including goods-carrying capability.[5][6][7] This is considered a particularly important future need for electric motorcycles like the Zero,[8][9] where battery constraints limit usable range, and the need for lengthy recharging cycles at public electrical points punctuates journeys and necessitates careful trip planning.[10]

A streamlined motorcycle designed by Charly Perethian with a 185 cc Yamaha motor achieved 372 miles per US gallon (0.632 L/100 km; 447 mpg-imp) at the 1983 challenge, and is now displayed in the Smithsonian Institution.[6][11][12]

Results

Winners by year are tabulated below. Data as published by Craig Vetter at the contest website. All vehicles are full faired streamliners unless noted.

Year Location Winner Fuel economy Model Notes
1980 Colorado Springs–Cripple Creek, Colorado Lammy Johnstone 97.9 mpg-US (2.40 L/100 km; 117.6 mpg-imp) 1000 cc Harley-Davidson
1981 Templeton–Cambria, California Mike Hishki 189 mpg-US (1.24 L/100 km; 227 mpg-imp) Honda Passport Matt Guzzetta/Don Vesco "Project 200" streamliner entered, disqualified[13]
1982 San Luis Obispo–Monterey, California Charly Perethian 282 mpg-US (0.83 L/100 km; 339 mpg-imp) 185 cc 1982 Yamaha Vehicle now in Smithsonian
1983 Carmel–Carmel, California Charly Perethian 372 mpg-US (0.632 L/100 km; 447 mpg-imp) 185 cc 1982 Yamaha
1984 Carmel–Carmel Masakazu Matsuzawa 377 mpg-US (0.624 L/100 km; 453 mpg-imp) Honda XL 125 Record 557 mpg-US (0.422 L/100 km; 669 mpg-imp) achieved by Dan Hannebrink on first stage
1985 Carmel–Big Sur–Laguna Seca Masakazu Matsuzawa 470 mpg-US (0.50 L/100 km; 560 mpg-imp) 1980 Honda XL 80

Results from the 2010s can not be directly compared as there was a major rule change that required a minimum cargo capacity and minimum top speed. Additionally, winners were declared by cost spent on pump gas (or electricity), not strictly mileage, significant as there is a mix of motor types.

Year Location Winner Fuel economy Model Notes
October 2010 San Luis Obispo Winner (by MPG)/Second place (by fuel cost) 089.5 mpg-US (2.63 L/100 km; 107.5 mpg-imp) Hayes Diesel motorcycle (not streamlined) First public demonstration; bio-diesel
Winner (by cost of fuel consumed) 081.4 mpg-US (2.89 L/100 km; 97.8 mpg-imp) Custom Ninja 250-engined trike
May 2011 Carmel Fred Hayes 128 mpg-US (1.84 L/100 km; 154 mpg-imp) Hayes MD670F2 Diesel motorcycle (semi faired)
July 2011 Lexington, Ohio Max Perethian 157 mpg-US (1.50 L/100 km; 189 mpg-imp) 1989 Honda NX250 (semi faired) 1982–1983 winner Charly Perethian designed; son rode machine
Stock bike got 86 mpg on tests before streamlining
November 2011 Las Vegas to Barstow Fred Hayes 133.2 mpg-US (1.766 L/100 km; 160.0 mpg-imp) Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed) Achieved second place with 143.53 mpg at prior contest
May 2012 Carmel Fred Hayes 109.6 mpg-US (2.146 L/100 km; 131.6 mpg-imp) Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed)
July 2012 Lexington, Ohio Fred Hayes 143.6 mpg-US (1.638 L/100 km; 172.5 mpg-imp) Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed) Electric motorcycle entrant had lower cost per mile but did not meet cargo requirement.
November 2012 Las Vegas to Barstow Fred Hayes 125.92 mpg-US (1.8680 L/100 km; 151.22 mpg-imp) Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed)
May 2013 Carmel Fred Hayes 149.68 mpg-US (1.5714 L/100 km; 179.76 mpg-imp) Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed)
July 2013 Lexington, Ohio Fred Hayes 162.5 mpg-US (1.447 L/100 km; 195.2 mpg-imp) Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed)
July 2014 Lexington, Ohio Alan Smith 181.6 mpg-US (1.295 L/100 km; 218.1 mpg-imp) Kawasaki Ninja 250 (rider semi exposed, Vetter fairing)
August 2014 Wendover to Tooele, Utah Terry Hershner (winner, cost basis) N/A Zero Motorcycles electric 80 mph speed limits
Alan Smith (winner, pump fuel) 139.3 mpg-US (1.689 L/100 km; 167.3 mpg-imp) Kawasaki Ninja 250 (rider semi exposed, Vetter fairing)
Fred Hayes (winner, alternate fuel [biodiesel]) 164.0 mpg-US (1.434 L/100 km; 197.0 mpg-imp) Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed)
October 2014 San Luis Obispo Pending Pending Pending

References

  1. Jim Witters (July 13, 2014), "Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge tests fuel mileage limits", American Motorcyclist (American Motorcyclist Association)
  2. 1 2 "The Vetter Fuel Economy Challenges", Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
  3. "Craig Vetter: Fairing and Motorcycle Designer, Innovator, Racer", Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame (American Motorcyclist Association), retrieved 2012-10-26
  4. Brewer, Chuck; Cox, Todd (April 27, 2012). "Genuine Volkswagon [sic] Parts / Craig Vetter interview". Wheelnerds (Podcast). Event occurs at 15:35. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
  5. "Vetter Fuel Challenge Goals and Rules", Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2013-05-27
  6. 1 2 Brown, Stuart (July 26, 2011), "Wheels blog: Independent Motorcycle Designers Achieve Over 150 M.P.G. at Ohio Challenge", The New York Times, retrieved 2013-11-17
  7. Vetter, Craig (June 7, 2011), Green transportation: Living Better on Less Energy: Fuel Economy History Was Made in California: Diesels rule at the Quail Vetter Challenge, Mother Earth News, retrieved 2013-11-17
  8. "Streamlining the Zero - conceived", Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  9. "Streamlining the Zero - part 2", Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  10. David Herron, "How did Terry Hershner travel 3500+ miles on an electric motorcycle in 6 days?" Torque News, 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2013-05-27
  11. America on the Move: Pope, Cleveland, Autoped, and Simplex, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History
  12. "Smithsonian exhibit opens", American Motorcyclist, September 1986: 9
  13. Youngblood, Ed (November 30, 2011), "How Matt Guzzetta crossed America on one tank of gas", Ed Youngblood's Motohistory, retrieved 2014-09-19

External links

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