One club on campus is focusing on helping the environment by making electrical vehicles to promote clean and renewable fuel alternatives.

The University's Motor Sports Club is a student-run organization in which students can get hands-on experience with the latest technology and a chance to race go-karts.

The club has been around since 1994 and has 20 students on roster.

Anthony Palumbo, adviser of the University's Motor Sports Club, said getting the experience of the reality-based program is something that cannot be learned in the classroom.

"One thing about motor sports above all other sports is that it's not only athletics participating, but people who can put stuff together with electronics," Palumbo said. "The beauty of the Motor Sports Club is that it's open to anybody with any major because the motor sports enterprise can utilize the experience of all majors."

The organization's program is funded by members, donations and marketing partners.

"Last year we generated almost $20,000 of brand new money that did not come out of students' tuition," Palumbo said. "That money was used to buy and build the latest electric vehicle technology. We have state of the art technology here and my students get that experience."

President of the University's Motor Sports Club, Spencer Lee, said the program has recently converted into more of an environmental sustainability club.

"Last year was the year that we converted over to the electric vehicles," Lee said. "Before we ran our carts on gas and ethanol."

Lee said there is a race called the Electrical Vehicle Grand Prix in Indianapolis the week after finals, which the club plans to complete in.

"What makes us different from other clubs is that we go out and actually compete in races," Lee said.

One member of the Motor Sports Club, freshman Joseph Zbasnik, started participating in the club during fall semester.

"Getting experience with the electrical technology and everything that goes into the design of the cart is awesome," Zbasnik said. "Anyone can join. I'm learning new stuff in the club every day about the club and about how everything goes together."

Anyone interested in becoming part of the club can email Spencer Lee at lees@bgsu.edu or Anthony Palumbo at apalumb@bgsu.edu.

The club meets every Thursday at the Airport from 1-4 p.m.

TWO North students are on track to build an electric go-kart that will reach a hair-raising 100mph.

What’s more, the duo will become the first British go-karters to compete in one of the world’s biggest racing tournaments.

Engineering students John Wood and Hayley Blythe, from Sunderland, are currently developing the electric motor and battery for the go-kart, which will power their way to the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

Also known as the Indy 500, it is billed as America’s greatest spectacle in racing and is regarded as one of the most significant motorsport events in the world.

More than 400,000 racing enthusiasts attend the event every year and it is watched on television by millions of viewers across the globe.

This is the first time any vehicle outside the US has been invited to compete in Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s prestigious Electric Vehicle Grand Prix – or evGrandPrix.

This year’s Indy 500 is particularly special as it celebrates its 100th anniversary, but the evGrandPrix is a much more recent addition to the event schedule.

John and Hayley, who are studying at Sunderland University, have been set the challenge to design, build and race a fast and energy-efficient battery-powered kart over 100 laps.

They were invited to compete after a visit to Purdue University in Indiana during a conference with the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

On race day, it will be Hayley behind the wheel and she’s determined she can cut it in a man’s sport.

Dave Baglee, project coordinator at Sunderland University, who’ll be joining the students at the event, added: “John and Hayley are excited at the thought of showing off their skills. We have a great car and a strong team spirit, and real potential to compete well and finish in a top position.”

The evGrandPrix will take place on May 7, 2011.

After President Barack Obama said early in his presidency that we, as a nation, must start building things again, San Clemente real estate broker George Fortin went to work to build an electric go-kart from scratch in the garage of his Talega home.

In November, a year and $4,000 later, he finished the 20-horsepower, zero-emission vehicle he calls the Z-Kart. It uses six lead-acid batteries and has a range of 20 miles at speeds of 40 to 50 mph, depending on the gearing installed. With a frame built from recycled polyethylene, it weighs about 300 pounds and can be charged from a regular household electrical outlet in about three hours, Fortin said.

SEE A SLIDE SHOW HERE OR AT LEFT.

Fortin, 55, said he was inspired not only by the words of the president but also a personal conviction to live "greener."

"If I can build this using common tools and stuff from local hardware stores, then think of what someone could build with better resources and an engineering degree," he said.

WATCH A VIDEO FEATURING FORTIN AND THE Z-KART.

His parents learned quickly that no household appliance was safe from their son when he had a screwdriver in his hand. He took apart can openers and hairdryers and even made an electric scooter with the rotisserie motor from his dad's barbecue.

Fortin, who grew up in Diamond Bar, began "engineering" go-karts when he was about 11, including secretly taking apart his dad's first gasoline lawn mower.

But he didn't get serious until he upgraded an old motorized minibike. He said all the adults in the neighborhood had off-road bikes and would regularly ride to the top of a particularly steep hill. Limited by the small motor on his minibike, he was unable to tag along. But he swapped his bike's 3-horsepower motor for a Briggs & Stratton 8-horsepower model, and soon he was on top of the hill.

"The (bigger) motor was all in pieces when I got it, and when I had it on the bike it was so big, the spark plug came up through the top of the seat. But I made it work," Fortin said. "Sitting on top of that hill ... it was my moment."

Fortin, who has no formal training in design or engineering, has never stopped making things, with dozens of self-propelled vehicles and go-karts made and pulled apart again – always salvaging the parts to make something better. Trial and error has shown him what works and what doesn't, including gear ratios, chassis design, suspension and steering assemblies.

Fortin says he is driven by curiosity about how things work and making things people can use efficiently and safely.

"I am just a big kid," he said.

His first Z-Kart had spoked bicycle wheels, but when the motor torque and tight steering tests kept tearing the wheels off, he redesigned it using dune-buggy wheels with motorcycle tires, along with other refinements.

"I really want to use my story to support making the garage a breeding ground for new ideas," Fortin said. "Big corporate companies are too bogged down with stuff. The garage is a personal space free from negativity ... and politics, where a person with the passion and an idea can be creative. Apple and Microsoft did it."

Fortin said he has had about 155,000 hits on his YouTube videos featuring the Z-Kart, along with more than 4,000 emails from people inquiring about how to build it themselves. He also has been contacted by San Clemente-based chassis maker Swift Engineering to possibly help take the Z-Kart to the next level.

Deciding to buy your child a go kart can be a difficult decision to make. If you have already decided to take the plunge, then you may be trying to decide whether gas or electric go karts are the better choice. Electric go karts have a number of advantages over karts powered by gas. This article will share with you those advantages.

Cheaper

Electric go karts are usually much cheaper than their gas counterparts. Karts powered by gas normally start around $400 or $500. You can find a lot of electric go karts that will only cost you a maximum of $200.

Safer

Go karts that rely on gas for power can be dangerous due to the fact that gasoline is extremely flammable. Most parents wouldn't be too thrilled with having their kids handling gasoline. Even kids can safely handle the batteries required by electric go karts. Also, most electric karts have some form of speed control so that parents can control how fast their kids are able to go.

Environmentally Friendlier

Everyone knows that burning gas releases toxic fumes into the atmosphere. For the environmentally conscious parent, electric go karts are the perfect solution. In addition to helping save the Earth, your kid won't be breathing in any poisonous fumes while he's having fun in his new toy

Noise

The engine of gas powered go karts make a lot of noise when running. If you live in a relatively quiet neighborhood, this may cause problems with your neighbors. Electric karts make considerably less noise

Maintenance

Maintenance costs for go karts powered by gas can add up quickly. You will need a constant supply of fuel. In addition to this, gas engines are more susceptible to breakdowns and oil leaks. With electric go karts, you can simply recharge the battery time and time again. Also, they have much less moving parts, so they are far less likely to break down.

Performance

Electric go karts usually have more efficient engines than gas go karts. They easily outperform gas powered karts in handling and performance. Also, they are virtually impossible to tip over while cutting sharp corners like gas go karts are vulnerable to doing.

Easier to Start