Mini Indy Building Skills To Last A Lifetime

While it might seem to be a lot of fun to fix up a go kart and roar around the track racing while at the same time helping out charity there are ulterior motives going on at the Miny Indy Race. The Mini-Indy Race will be held at the Town and Country Mall June 18th from noon until 5 pm.

Ulterior motives which are both educational while at the same time hoping to encourage future technicians and innovators.

“They are learning autobody, they are learning paint and detailing, they are learning basic welding, they are learning frame straightening….and they are learning small engine repair,” Merv Armstrong, the man behind the non-profit Swervin’ Mini Indy said about the project.

Additionally the project also helps students, who were learning robotics and associated programming, to get exposure to the growing world of electric cars.

The former gasoline powered go-karts are being converted into electric powered vehicles as part of an inaugural EV (electric vehicle) challenge.

“I’ve been doing a lot of research on electric vehicles and thought what a great way to teach high school kids about electric vehicles. Let’s turn them all electric,” Armstrong told MJ Independent.

Armstrong, who is an engineer and retired member of the Society of Automotive Engineers who formerly helped design a vehicle in his university student days, sees the program as beneficial to the students who are involved as well as the four Ford dealerships in the province - including Moose Jaw Ford - for introducing students to the mechanics and body work.

He saw the potential of introducing students to the trades as a good thing as it may inspire to further their education in that area as well as the potential of higher paying jobs as automotive and autobody technicians.

“I don’t know exactly how they will be doing it but there might be future apprentices for Moose Jaw Ford, the technicians and innovators (in the automotive industry).”

Armstrong said the participation by Ford dealerships in a partnership opened the door for the province’s Catholic schools - who often do not have shop space - to participate in the program. The opportunity has been embraced by the Catholic schools - in Moose Jaw Vanier Collegiate and the Phoenix Academy signed on.

“As soon as they (schools) find out they really don’t need shop space, they’ll go to the Ford dealership (the schools come on board). Which makes the Ford dealership happy because they are the happy because they are gaining potential apprentices,” he said.

The program is approved by the Ministry of Education, the superintendents of the participating school divisions and the teachers involved, he said.

For teachers the opportunity was not seen as strictly automotive but the program - by working with an electric vehicle and there is programming involved - is seen as complimentary to robotics that the students are learning.

He admits there have been some setbacks with some schools opting out who previously participated because due to budget constraints they have switched their programs to other areas such as agriculture while schools in Regina are leaning to cancelling their automotive shop classes entirely.

“We are going to partnership with industry to teach these kids because they are basically not going to learn it in school like I did,” Armstrong said.

The after hours program could potentially open other doors with Armstrong approaching the province’s two largest utilities - SaskPower and SaskTel - about the opportunities it could provide to the two Crowns with differing results.

SaskTel has been highly positive to the program and the benefits it could have to them.

“SaskTel is on (board) because they are interested in GPS controlled automobiles.”

SaskPower though is looking at the program - based upon the need to build the utilities infrastructure to fuel electric vehicles - but so far the response has been tepid.

“I am hoping they (SaskPower) come up with something more impressive.”

Armstrong said there has been interest in the program outside of Saskatchewan in Winnipeg as well as Vancouver.

The data from the electrically converted Mini Indy go-karts is also headed to the National Research Council (NRC) where Armstrong is hopeful they will get on board to help fund the program. This year there are nine cars participating and next year there is already demand for 15 cars to participate.

One of the go-kart’s body (shell) repaired and repainted before decals are applied - MJ Independent photo

He also looks to the opportunity of perhaps moving the program onto water as he has plans for a single seater boat which could be built in school’s wood shops as a way to move electrically powered vehicles onto lakes and rivers where they could help stop pollution.

“It’s an industry that is notorious for polluting lakes. You know outboard motors, gas powered motors, this is a growth industry that could really take off in this province, electric boats…this is an opportunity for some entrepreneur out there to say ‘hey let’s do this’” he said.

Electrically powered vehicles are the future in powering vehicles and the program helps the participating students be part of that.

“That is the wave of the future. By the time these kids graduate from high school they are the future hires. We are giving them a leg up so they are a little bit more advanced in this stuff and they have an interest in it,” Armstrong said.

Why Moose Jaw? What Is Needed To Help Out?

The racing in Moose Jaw is a combination of two events - the fundraiser for charity as well as the student EV Challenge.

Armstrong said Moose Jaw was selected for the event simply because of the interest shown.

Moose Jaw initially was suppose to have two cars - one for Vanier Collegiate and one for Phoenix Academy - but the student interest had Vanier asking for two cars. With nine cars participating and Moose Jaw having a third of the field it was decided to host the event in the Friendly City.

Asked what he need to make the all day event a success Armstrong said - square straw (hay) bales and other sponsorships to give the event more of a NASCAR feel and volunteers to help out.

“We are looking for track sponsors. People that will help us pay for the program. All of the participants they raise sponsors as well, but all of that money goes to the charity…we are trying to give the track that NASCAR feel. We want to support local business.”

For more information as well as contact information check out the Swervin’ Mini Indy Racing Facebook Page by clicking here .

2022 Mini Indy Race For Recovery is Saturday June 18th from Noon - 5 pm at the Town and Country Mall parking lot