Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge - Mid-Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days 2016

Vetter Challenge 2016 - Vintage Motorcycle Days

Vetter Challenge 2016 - Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 8-10, 2016

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Meet the Schultz Engineering Vetter Challenge Support Team! Left to Right, Nick and Ben Schultz worked the cameras, did grocery shopping, got us breakfast and lunch, drove the chase vehicle, and transported the Schultz Engineering Electric motorcycle and gear to and from the event. I could not have done it without them! Thank you Nick and Ben!

We worked hard to pack up Wednesday night so we could leave early Thursday morning. This picture is Thursday morning all packed up and ready to go!

Friday, July 8, 2016

Past Vetter Challenge Riders (Kraig Schultz, Alan Smith, Vic Valdes, and Scott Endler) did a talk on the Vetter Challenge on Friday at Vintage Motorcycle Days. Griff Allen stopped in to introduce us and attend the talk. Click here to see the video on YouTube.

Saturday, July 9, 2016 - Pre-Challenge Test Run

A few of the riders who arrived early went for a Saturday lunch run to make sure their bikes were running well for the Sunday ride.

Left to right: Kraig Schultz, Richard Goff, Jacob "Jake" Dennis, Finnie Wagaman.

Left to right: Nick Schultz, Ben Schultz, Jake Dennis, Richard Goff, Finnie Wagaman.

It was Nicks idea to order two of the lunch burger specials which he quickly polished off. Ben had leftovers. I was stuffed with just one burger!

Doing some adjustments to get more clearance on fairing and charger on Richard's bike

We went back to Garage #28 at Mid-Ohio Raceway (where there is a an exterior RV50 Outlet on a 50 foot extension cord!). A primary objective of the test ride was to discharge three bikes so we could test an RV50 pigtail to see if it could support charging at close to 11,000 watts.

If you look closely you will see Ben and Nick sleeping off their two burger lunches behind Jake. Ben is in a hammock, Nick is sprawled out on the workbench. Napping at Vintage Motorcycle days adjacent to the track requires some serious earplugs or as the boys prefer some, nice noise cancelling headphones.

You betcha it works! We charged all three motorcycles in 1.5 hours or less after 35 miles of riding from one RV50 outlet!!!

Saturday, July 9, 2016 - Pre-Ride Grocery Check and Riders Meeting

On Saturday evening we met at the Splash Harbor Comfort Inn parking lot to test fit 4 bags of groceries (our Sunday breakfast food) in each challengers bike.

Richard Goff, Groceries, no problem. Richard points out that these bags seem shorter than what Carol Vetter likes to use.

Virginia Tech, Groceries, no problem. Their saddle bags are HUGE!

ZEV Groceries, don't quite fit.

Kraig Schultz, Groceries, just barely fit, but this is without his extended range battery pack, so he revised the system and demonstrated Sunday morning to Vic and Alan that his bike can carry 4 bags of groceries AND 100lbs of extra batteries on the tail. He ran the challenge with the grocery hauling bags in place, but stuffed full with pillows and paper towel rolls.

Scott Endler, Groceries, no problem.

Neds Electric bike. No room for groceries!

We then had a riders meeting to review the course and plans for the Sunday ride. Craig Vetter joined us by speaker phone!

Griff Allen preparing Vics phone so Vic can text in Challenge results to announce to Mid-Ohio Vintage Days attendees Sunday afternoon.

Sunday, July 10, 2016 - 8AM Leaving Splash Harbor

Gas bikes top off their fuel. It's one of those clear Sunday mornings where you look at the sky and don't even bother looking at the weather map, because you know the weather is going to be great!

For the first time ever, an electric motorcycle was selected to lead a VMD Vetter Challenge! On Friday, Kraig, Alan and Vic rode the course together and selected a route that would meet the requirements of the ride including portions of the ride at 65mph. Kraig Schultz was "vetted" by Alan Smith and Vic Valdes and approved to lead the ride.

Each year since, 2011, electric motorcycles failed to successfully complete the VMD Vetter Challenge due to lack of range and/or recharging capabilities. So, after 5 years of trying to complete the course without success, six electric motorcycles lined up with the gasoline bikes to attempt it again. The electric riders know from experience it's best to stay at the front of the group, if you are passed by the last rider, you are disqualified for riding too slowly. The first three bikes are Kraig Schultz, Jake Dennis (VT team bike) and Richard Goff.

Fourteen motorcycles left Splash Harbor, 6 bikes in the group were electric, 7 bikes in the group were fully or partially streamlined.

Sunday, July 10, 2016 - 9:00am-10:30am Breakfast and Fellowship at Centerburg Memorial Park

We experienced perfect weather for a beautiful Sunday morning ride. We lined the bikes up in the parking lot at Centerburg Memorial Park. The first leg was 29.6 miles and was completed in 40 minutes with an average speed of 44 mph and max speed of 67mph. Don't scoff at an average speed of 44 mph until you've measured your own average speed with a GPS when traveling on mixed highway and rural roads - this is a fast pace.

Continental Breakfast (fruit, OJ, water, granola bars, yogurt, cereal) in the shade.

Kraig and Nick Schultz video-taped interviews with each rider. To view the interviews, click here.

Ned Funnell's wife caught up with us so that Ned's baby could enjoy the day

There were questions about how to use the Kill-A-Watt meters to measure energy consumption. In particular, a power factor of .6 was noted on the ZEV charging circuit. Would this be a problem?

Sunday, July 10, 2016 - 11:30am-1:00pm Lunch and Fellowship at AMA Museum

More perfect weather for the ride to the AMA Museum. The second leg of 32.4 miles was completed in 53 minutes with an average speed of 36.7 mph and max speed of 67.1mph. There were posted speed limits down to 35mph on this leg.

We lined the bikes up for a group photo before sending the electric bikes to the AMA office building to charge.

There is an awesome charging station in the shade near the loading dock on the south wall of the AMA office building. It has two park benches, a 110V outlet and one RV50 outlet that can charge up to three motorcycles (having traveled 40 miles) at a time in less than 1.5 hours!

Jake Dennis gives the charging experience a thumbs up

The ZEV bikes both charged up using the outlets on the north-east and north-west corners of the office building (There are two, 15 Amp, 110VAC circuits on each corner). So, with the outlets in the carports, six electric motorcycles could charge up from a 40 mile ride in 1.5 hours at the same time.

After touring the museum we headed to the board room for pizza and hear video and audio interviews with Craig Vetter.

Then it was time to thank the Museum Staff and jump on the bikes, get another group picture and head out.

Ned Funnell, Wife, Baby and motorcycle stayed behind. He didn't have the range required to return with the group all the way to the starting point without stopping to charge, so he gracefully bowed out and enjoyed the afternoon with his family instead.

Sunday, July 10, 2016 - 1:00pm-2pm Ride Centerburg Park for Pit Stop

A third leg of 37.2 miles, was completed in 63 minutes with an average speed of 35.4 mph and max speed of 67.2mph. The tail of the group got separated and rode an extra five miles during this leg. We rejoined just before reaching Centerburg Memorial park for a 10 minute rest stop. Richard Goff caught a quick 10 minute charge, Kraig Schultz swapped out his extra battery pack.

Sunday, July 10, 2016 - 2:00pm-3pm Ride to Speedway Gas Station next to Splash Harbor and Collect Data from Riders

A forth leg of 29 miles was completed in 40 minutes with an average speed of 43.5 mph and max speed of 67.2mph.

Back where we started from at 8am this morning! Look at those beautiful cotton-ball clouds! It was a sunny, clear, warm, nearly windless, wonderful day to ride in the Ohio countryside. The Gas bikes topped off and turned in their receipts. Kraig and Vic did some math to figure out which bikes had the lowest fuel cost per mile.

For the first time in the history of the Mid-Ohio Vetter Fuel economy challenges, electric motorcycles had completed the challenge WITH the group and WITH the ability to carry groceries. Three electric bikes finished with the group (one is hidden behind the Electraglide). So, we began the ride with 14 bikes, and ended with 11. Three of the six electric bikes had failed to keep up with the group.

Alan Smith, as always, in good cheer after a challenge ride.

After collecting the numbers and doing some quick calculations it was apparent that either Vic Valdes (on Left) or Kraig Schultz (on Right) had won the challenge. But, it would take close scrutiny to figure out which one had won (yes, it's that close!). Vic called Griff Allen at the track and had him announce the preliminary results. Then we lined up Kraig and Vics bike for a "Which Won?" victory photograph.

Immediately after leaving the Centerburg park the ZEV bike ridden by Brian had a BMS fault and was loaded onto the Schultz Engineering chase vehicle trailer. Everyone else stuck with it until the last 5 mile run at 65mph. The ZEV bike ridden by Darus Sr. slowed down and was passed by Vic Valdes (the Grim Reaper). Darus then took a wrong turn and rode an extra 8 miles before rejoining the group at the Speedway gas station. Here's Darus Sr. after getting to the gas station happy that his bike completed the trip (albeit having been disqualified for falling behind the group).

Kraig Schultz spent time with the ZEV team talking about how to resolve the Power Factor measurement issue. Left to Right: Bryan Strakal, Darus Zehrbach Jr., Darus Zehrbach Sr., Kraig Schultz

We had a group meeting to discuss things to improve for future Vetter Challenges. Ideas include:

1. Paint Arrows on the road to help designate turning points so that it's easier to keep the group together.

2. Lead and tail person need 2 way radio headsets to talk to each other so we can keep the group together.

3. Go south of the Museum into Amish Country for the next ride (twistier, more hills)? Nate Miller lives one hour north and may be able to help find future routes.

4. Simpler route with less turns, less intersections, less stop lights, to separate the group?

5. Find more charging locatons

Sunday, July 10, 2016 - Official Results Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge VMD 2016

Preliminary Results of the event are as follow:

(Official Craig Vetter Website)

About Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenges:

History: From 1980-1985, Craig Vetter (the inventor of the "Wind Jammer" motorcycle fairing), hosted an annual fuel economy competition in California. Participants in the competition were able to get up to 470 miles per gallon at the then national speed limit of 55mph. Craig Vetter Website

Beginning in 2011, spurred by rising gasoline prices, Craig Vetter once again began coordinating rides. A small group of people who are working on improving fuel economy for motorcycles gather from all over the country to participate in the Vetter Fuel Economy Rides. We have met at Mid-Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days each year since 2011 to showcase what we have learned and to participate in a Fuel Economy Demonstration Ride. The rides are free and open to the public. The rides are conducted to raise public awareness, foster innovation and to share ideas with a goal of publicizing motorcycle designs that are highly efficient and practical for everyday riding.

Here's a picture I took of Craig Vetter sitting in front of his original streamliner from the 1980's while he told me the story about how it started out the "only proper color for a streamliner (silver)" and got painted blue after being broken in two in a crash.

Craig is recovering from a hitting a deer while riding his streamliner on August 14, 2015. To stay focused on his recovery, he did not attend the 2016 Vintage Motorcycle Days event. We volunteered to help keep the Vetter Challenge Rides going while he recovers.