Thursday, April 25, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
Bartlett is pictured racing in the Green Grand Prix. His custom-built Urba Centurion took first place in last year’s fuel efficiency race by achieving 216 mpg. This year he his at 250 mpg. Official …
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Bartlett is pictured racing in the Green Grand Prix. His custom-built Urba Centurion took first place in last year’s fuel efficiency race by achieving 216 mpg. This year he his at 250 mpg. Official race results were not available as of press time.
By JIMMY LAWTON
A Colton man who tied for first in the 2104 Green Grand Prix shattered his fuel efficiency record by achieving 250 mpg this weekend in his ‘Total Recall’ inspired Centurion.
Jerry Bartlett is a learning systems manager at SUNY Canton, with love for fuel efficiency.
On April 17 he traveled to Ohio to compete in the Green Grand Prix. The event was created by Robert Gillespie and has drawn universities, students, businesses, privateers, for 11 years now. But this is only Bartlett’s second year of participation, having taken first place in 2014.
“After a huge win last year, I decided to take Centurion up one more notch - make it freeway capable. So the 257 mile trip down I-81 was with traffic (averaging 60-65 mph) and the total fuel used to get there was a mere 1.54 gallons (diesel),” he said in an emailed response.
Batlett said he returned an impressive 166 mpg and that the 100 mile mpg competition on the racetrack yielded even more impressive results this year.
“I believe the official numbers at the awards banquet were 250 miles per gallon for Centurion and my in car navigator - Peter Cutler from Potsdam was instrumental in keeping track of data such as laps, times, pitstop schedule, etc. The target speed was 45 mph for all 100 miles and I'm quite sure we exceeded that due to extensive modifications during the last year.”
The Green Grand Prix is now Toyota sponsored and the miles per gallon competition takes place on the historic Watkins Glen International Raceway.
The races founder says it's an educational event aimed at promoting cleaner environment. Bartlett said it is the only event of it’s kind in the US and is sanctioned by the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America).
The Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rally takes place on the public roads and is aimed at precision driving. This year Toyota had their Mirai Fuel Cell Car on display and Pennsylvania College of Technology entered a Tesla Model S pure electric car.
Additionally there was a compressed natural gas vehicle, a Kubota powered MG, and Centurion.
