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
- ↑ Jim Witters (July 13, 2014), "Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge tests fuel mileage limits", American Motorcyclist (American Motorcyclist Association)
- 1 2 "The Vetter Fuel Economy Challenges", Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
- ↑ "Craig Vetter: Fairing and Motorcycle Designer, Innovator, Racer", Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame (American Motorcyclist Association), retrieved 2012-10-26
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Vetter Fuel Challenge Goals and Rules", Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2013-05-27
- 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "Streamlining the Zero - conceived", Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- ↑ "Streamlining the Zero - part 2", Craig Vetter's official website. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ America on the Move: Pope, Cleveland, Autoped, and Simplex, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History
- ↑ "Smithsonian exhibit opens", American Motorcyclist, September 1986: 9
- ↑ Youngblood, Ed (November 30, 2011), "How Matt Guzzetta crossed America on one tank of gas", Ed Youngblood's Motohistory, retrieved 2014-09-19