Watkins Glen's Festival of Green

Watkins Glen, May 19, 2010: The whine of Electric racers mingled with the smell of wood power at the 6th Annual Green Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, NY. On May 8th. There was truly something for everybody as hybrids and hydrogen cars met propane, biodiesel, solar, electric, and natural gas-powered vehicles in this yearly road rally and fuel economy competition held on scenic public roads that inspired the first Grand Prix here a half-century ago. Four New York Electrathon Teams ran in a slalom session as preschoolers learned how to drive 5mph electric Kidracers.

The competitive events were followed by an educational Green Expo featuring sustainable energy technologies including windpower, solar, and biofuels.

Festival goers strolled about through a mind-boggling variety of vehicle technologies and had the opportunity to experience first-hand the energy required to run household appliances by peddling the Cornell University Energy Bike, and the locally made “blender bike”.

A variety of speakers described renewable energy initiatives to attentive ears. Perhaps the most interesting enthusiasts participating in this year’s Green Grand Prix were the Ecomodders; who tweak existing cars for maximum efficiency, with impressive results,

often a full 20 mpg over EPA ratings.

The following is a list of awards for the Green Grand Prix competitive events

2010 Green Grand Prix Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rally

Overall place Points Driver/Navigator Car Make Class

1 54 Mark Gonya/ Chris Doeing 2010 Insight Hybrid

2 302 Zach and Melinda Fredenburg 2003 Mini Cooper Gas

3 308 Zoren Bullock/ Bill Overbaugh 2006 Mustang Alt fuel

2010 Chicago-Soft Green Grand Prix

Presented by Racecars.com

Class Driver Vehicle mpg

1 George Hoffman 1996 Plymouth Breeze 32.9

2 Jason Ketcham 1998 Honda Civic 39.4

2M Will Meredith 1998 Honda Civic EX 76.0

3 Bob Schiesser 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid 41.0

3M Bruce Pick 1997 Honda Civic HX 52.9

4 Clark Weirda 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid 46.6

5 Denise Liedmann 2006 Toyota Prius 57.4

9 Gary Stottler 2009 Chevy Equinox FC 67.2

10 Randy Tubbs 1999 VW New Beetle 66.2

10 B Martin Deschenes 2000 VW Jetta TDi 73.2

11 Ron Hansen 2001 Honda Insight 77.7

11M Matt Gates 2000 Honda Insight 87.6

12 C.M. Lewis 2000 Honda Insight (car with trailer) 50.7

NYElectrathon Technical Presentations

1st place Baker High School, Baldwinsville, NY

2nd place Cicero-North Syracuse High School

3rd place Cazenovia High School