At a glance
After traveling more than 2,300 miles in nine days in a 1953 Dodge Power Wagon tow truck, a group of five Alfred State students and one professor arrived in Santa Monica, CA June 28, officially finishing The Great Race.
After traveling more than 2,300 miles in nine days in a 1953 Dodge Power Wagon tow truck, a group of five Alfred State students and one professor arrived in Santa Monica, CA June 28, officially finishing The Great Race.
Automotive Trades Professor Mike Ronan, who served as faculty adviser on the trip, said although desert temperatures in New Mexico, Arizona, and California reached 115 degrees Fahrenheit, the Power Wagon’s coolant never rose above 190 degrees Fahrenheit and that the vehicle “ran like a champ the whole way.”
One challenge the group faced, according to team member Ryan Madison, an automotive service technician major from Rochester, was that some elevations along the route went from 200 feet above sea level to 7,200 feet above sea level. This meant that the team had to adjust the old carburetor often to keep the truck running smoothly.
“Other than that, all the competitors were amazed the truck performed so well,” Madison said.
Representing Alfred State in the race, in addition to Madison and Ronan, were Andrew Carpino, automotive service technician, Caledonia; Nick Reale, autobody repair, Jamestown; Tom Rifenburgh, automotive service technician, Worcester; and Ryan Valle, motorsports technology, New Windsor. Approximately 10 students in several majors worked regularly on the team’s vehicle throughout the spring semester, including rebuilding the engine and all drivetrain components, and installing new brakes, wiring, lights, and gauges.
Held June 20-28 this year, The Great Race stretched along the legendary Route 66 from Kirkwood, MO, through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and, finally, to Santa Monica. The race is an annual vintage car event designed to commemorate the original around-the-world “Great Race” that took place in 1908, which was won by a driver and car from Buffalo.
According to www.greatrace.com, entrants participate in a timed, controlled speed and endurance competition over scenic public highways and roads. Each team’s score is the result of its ability to follow all designated course instructions precisely.
Finishing 71st overall, Alfred State was one of 117 competitors in this year’s race, and one of four student teams in the X-Cup division. In this division, drivers must be at least 21 years old and younger than 25 at the start of the race. The Alfred State group had been awarded a $1,000 grant from the Antique Auto Club of America (AACA) and also raised funds for the trip through its GoFundMe page.
While participating in the race, the team, according to Ronan, spent many evenings helping to repair other competitors’ cars and made a lot of friends along the way. Valle noted that many other teams also gave advice to the rookie Alfred State squad, and Carpino said everybody involved in The Great Race “is like one big family.”
“We all help each other out, even if we are competing against one another,” Carpino said.
Ronan added, “The motto of The Great Race is ‘To finish is to win,” and all five students agreed that they felt like winners in Santa Monica.”