East Coast Road Rally and Autocross Event

[Ralph Goodwin <evracer@ipass.net>]

PRESS RELEASE

Carolina EV Challenge
2501 Blue Ridge Road Suite 150
Raleigh, NC  27607
(530) 898-1493

Carolina EV Challenge Sponsors 5th Annual Northampton Electric Vehicle
Rally

Roanoke Rapids, N.C. (September 19, 2000) -  Students from more than 20
high
schools across the southeast US will gather in Roanoke Rapids, NC on
October
6-7 to drive, test, and compete in their custom-built electric cars and
trucks in the 5th Annual Northampton Electric Vehicle (EV) Rally.  The
Rally, one of the main events in the yearlong Carolina EV Challenge
educational program, provides students with an opportunity to compete in
a
timed autocross competition on Friday and participate in a road rally
through the towns of  Northampton County on Saturday.  The Rally is
organized and run by the students and instructors of NEAT - the
Northampton
Electric Automotive Team at Northampton-East High School in Conway.

The Carolina EV Challenge offers high school students an opportunity to
learn about the benefits of electric vehicles by actually converting a
gasoline powered vehicle to electric power.  The program includes
students
from a variety disciplines including math, auto mechanics, physics,
engineering, electronics, journalism, and many more. Throughout the
year,
students compete in a variety of activities such as environmental
science
projects, designing web sites, developing public presentations, and a
wide
range of community service activities for which schools are rewarded.

The Northampton Electric Vehicle Rally is very popular with both
spectators
and participants.  In addition to vehicles and students from Virginia to

Florida participating, the local communities along the Rally route have
turned out in large numbers to meet the students and view their cars.
"The
support shown by the local community makes this event one of the most
encouraging for the students.  Having it at the beginning of the school
year
helps the students to see the benefit and the interest people have in
clean
efficient vehicles," said Harold Miller, Asst. Director for the Carolina
EV
Challenge.  "We encourage everyone to come out and show their support."

The Northampton Electric Vehicle Rally events will begin on Friday,
October
6 from 10:00-4:00 at Becker Village Mall in Roanoke Rapids.  On Saturday
the
cars will travel through numerous Northampton communities from 9:00 -
12:00.
To learn more, contact Todd Clark or Danny Johnson at Northampton-East
High
School at 252-585-0627.

To learn more about the Carolina EV Challenge, visit the program web
site at
www.evchallenge.org.