Go Karts Tear Up Mall Parking Lot
It was two competitions and helping out a good cause all rolled into one on Saturday afternoon as the Swervin Mini Indy raced around the parking lot of the Town and Country Mall on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the record breaking heat the Swervin Mini Indy race - with gas powered go karts - as well as the high school Student Electric Vehicle Challenge heated up the track just south of the former Sears store.
“This is our 11th Swervoin Mini Indy race that is being held in conjunction with our first Student Electric Vehicle Challenge which is a fund raising event for the Canadian Mental Health Association and their OSI Can Program,” Merv Armstrong told MJ Independent from the pits.
This is the 11th year the go kart races have been held, but it is the first time the event has been held in Moose Jaw. The first ten years the event was held in Regina.
The heat played a role in the turnout of participants for the gas fueled Swervin Mini Indy but the electrical side with high school students had everyone show up..
“We had a couple of gas guys not show up which is unfortunate but the electric student cars has been great. We have nine competing teams here. North Battleford, Saskatoon, Regina and of course the three cars from Vanier Collegiate,” Armstrong said.
Asked if he was surprised how well and fast the electric go karts ran he said he was not surprised at all. The electric cars had more than enough speed to keep up with their gas powered brethren. It needs to be noted the electric and gas powered go karts did not run against each other.
“No, no this is the future of the automotive industry. And for me as sort of a semi retired engineer slash mechanic slash you know all of those other things that I have done in my life I am very interested in educating high school kids in the automotive industry.”
DID I do that? A driver in one of the Vanier Velocity teams throws up her arms saying sorry for scraping the Moose Jaw Ford logo off of the side one of the three Moose Jaw entries in the race (see photo below). - MJ Independent photo
He said the partnerships made with Ford dealership - Moose Jaw Ford, Bennett Dunlop Ford and Jubilee Ford - opened the doors for students.
“They actually get into their shops. Their techs teach them all about vehicles. They teach them paint, they teach them detailing, they teach them welding, small engine repair as well as what goes into electric vehicles. The kids get a hands on from actual working techs,” Armstrong said.
“Ford has been such a huge deal to this event.”
MINOR DAMAGE - a Moose Jaw Ford emblem was peeled off a car when the driver got a little too close to a pylon - MJ Independent photo
The response from Moose Jaw has Armstrong saying the Swervin Mini Indy will be back in the coming years.
“We have had a lot of good interest and a lot of good impact. We got a couple of local sponsorships. I am interested in promoting anything automotive in Moose Jaw. We are likely going to run this event for five years here in Moose Jaw.”
“We will be back next year,” he said.
OFF AND RUNNING - The High School Electric Challenge cars are off and running - MJ Independent photo
Armstrong wants to grow the Mini Indy in Moose Jaw.
“We are very interested in having it grow (in Moose Jaw). We are very interested in making it bigger, faster.”
The electric cars will also be returning for next year although it will not be a challenge to modify a gas go kart to an electrically driven go kart next year. It will be all about improving and building on this year’s work.
LEADERS - Two of the Vanier Velocity cars are running in first and second place in this heat - MJ Independent photo
“We challenged the electric cars to convert from gas to electric and then run in this particular event. We will take the cars and use them in other shows. We do things like that to promote the sport. And of course we return the cars to the school, in the school year and with a list of improvements we would like to see them build and work on,” Armstrong said.
The plan is that every year the go karts are refined and get better than the year’s before version. It also is geared to get the electrically powered go karts and the learning component across Western Canada.
“The event here is a turn key. This particular event is an opportunity to expand this to Vancouver in BC. To Calgary and in Alberta. And I will get to talk to with Canadian Mental Health and OSI in Winnipeg.”
WARNING FLAG - A race official displays the warning flag to let drivers know they are in their final lap - MJ Independent photo
“We would like to have all western provinces competing in the Electric Vehicle Challenge and then we take the top five cars from every province and come together in a championship.”
He sees the growth happening as the COVID - 19 pandemic had a negative effect on the program.
“It got some traction this year because we were actually allowed to get the kids into the shops and Ford, the dealerships were allowed to bring more than two or three kids at a time into their shop.”
The Swervin Mini Indy is scheduled to be back next year in Moose Jaw - bigger and better.