Second Annual Green Grand Prix

2nd Annual GREEN GRAND PRIX
Friday, June 2, 2006
First official SCCA road rally for alternative fuel vehicles

Click here to view photos of the rally

Click here to view photos of the display event

Results

Hybrid Rally Awards

1st Adam Morehouse Penn Yan, NY Toyota Prius 220 pts
2nd Mark Gonya Syracuse, NY Honda Accord Hybrid 236 pts
3rd Robert Scakun West Caldwell, NJ Toyota Camry Hybrid 284 pts
4th Charlie Valent Watkins Glen, NY Ford Escape Hybrid 286 pts

Alternate Fueled Vehicle Rally Awards

1st Margaret Sullivan Syracuse, NY Honda Civic CNG 350pts.
2nd Ken Gibbs Geneva, NY Mercedes 300 D veg. 383 pts
3rd Gregg Wicken Ithaca, NY Volkswagen Jetta veg. 481 pts

Hybrid MPG Awards

1st overall Tom Lyon Carlsbad, CA. Honda Insight 76.1 mpg
2nd Nancy Marion Penn Yan, NY Toyota Prius 56.6 mpg
3rd Mike Dengler Ithaca , NY Toyota Prius 54.5 mpg
4th Larry Gatry Elmira, NY Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 6cyl 29.1 mpg

Student Vehicle Design Awards

Brett Bulson Watkins Glen Middle School
Jenna Swarthout Watkins Glen Middle School
Liah Gascon Dundee Elementary School
Joe Badamy Penn Yan Middle School
Jake Rotenberg Geneva Elementary School

20006 Press Release

Watkins Glen Host To Historic Green Grand Prix

Watkins Glen, N.Y. (June 9, 2006) — History was made on June 2nd at Watkins Glen, N.Y. by the Green Grand Prix as 35 hybrid cars and alternate fueled vehicles competed in the first-ever official SCCA road rally for these cars in North America. The rally was held on a 78-mile course around the perimeter of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The rally hosted by the Glen Region of The Sports Car Club of America was part of a slate of activities during the all day event.

Energy independence, reduction of greenhouse gases and education about alternative fuels were major themes of the day’s schedule, which included discussions at the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC.) Experts from around the nation came together to speak on a variety of topics including hybrids, ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen fuel. Craig VanBatenberg from the Auto Career Development Center in Wooster, Mass. led off the discussions with a power point presentation entitled “Hybrid Myths.” The next speaker was Robert Skakun, representing Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. who spoke not only on the topic of the new Camry Hybrid, but also about how hybrids reduce greenhouse emissions. Joanna Schroeder, representing Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) addressed how ethanol can provide a viable alternative to gasoline. Harold Garabedian, from the Vermont Department of Natural Resources followed, with a discussion of hydrogen fuel issues. Last up was Derek Farmer of Cargill, speaking on the outlook for bio-diesel fuel. The panel of speakers ended the discussion by addressing questions from an overflow crowd.

Another part of the education component of the event was a student design contest that was conducted in the public schools surrounding the rally route. Students were invited to design their own version of an alternatively fueled vehicle resulting in over 100 wonderful creative entries.

Later in the day, Watkins Glen State Park was the scene of an educational display by the Finger Lakes Institute and a public display of the rally vehicles along with live music by the Celtic band, Fieldstone and old time music by Roy Litteer and Friends. Spectators were able to have a first hand look at the rally entries ranging from Robert “Chip” Beam’s entertaining wood powered car sponsored by Cassella Waste System Inc.; to at team of 5 veg-powered cars sponsored by area wineries; to a hydrogen powered car from the Vermont Department of Natural Resources and the latest hybrid vehicles from Toyota, Lexus, GM, Honda and Ford. The Team Ethanol Indy Car Series show car was also on display along with

the Indy Car Series Honda hybrid safety car. Jeff Simmons, an Indy Racing League Indy Car Series? driver, made a guest appearance at the event where he signed autographs and delighted students by presenting the student poster contest awards. Simmons drives the No. 17 Rahal Letterman Racing Team Ethanol car; he is sponsored by the ethanol industry and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC.) A total of 12 rally awards were also handed out from the stage.

In all, the day’s activities, whose proceeds will benefit the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association, were declared an overwhelming success by event organizers Carol Fitzgerald and Robert Gillespie. Gillespie stated, “We started out structuring the Green Grand Prix as an educational event that could grow in the future. This year’s response was way beyond our expectations, with major sponsorship from Toyota, Lexus, GM, Honda and Ford as well as EPIC, the Indy Car Series, Windshield Insurance Network and The Observer/Watkins Review & Express.” Sanctioning was also provided by NESEA: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association. The official results of the rally and student design contest are posted on www.glenspeed.com and the SCCA Glen Region website: http://www.glen-scca.org/index.html The Discovery Channel will air a Green Grand Prix special in September.

About Robert Gillespie: A career art instructor, free lance painter/graphic artist; hundreds of his drawings of the Finger Lakes region and its history have been published. A member of the American Automotive Artists Society; his paintings of Watkins Glen International racing history not only capture the details of the racing cars, but the action and excitement of each event. Hybrid gas/electric cars and AFVs have caught his attention, as they have appeared increasingly on the road and in the news. This new breed of vehicles has rekindled this artist / educator’s environmental awareness; resulting in the concept of the “Green Grand Prix.” You may contact Robert on his website www.glenspeed.com or by calling 315-536-7185.

About Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association: SLWPA was founded in 1991, with the mission and purpose to study and inform the SLWPA members and the public about ways to conserve, improve and protect the water resources and environment of Seneca Lake and its watershed. The Association also strives to preserve and enhance the varied landscape within the watershed by promoting improvements to technology and patterns of development that do not have an adverse impact on our environment. SLWPA is located at 601 S. Main St. Geneva, NY 14456. Call executive director Carol Fitzgerald (315)781-4398 for membership or information or visit the website at www.senecalake.org or e-mail slpwa@senecalake.org