Another goal for this year is to gain the support of local schools, both primary and secondary, to encourage their students to cultivate creativity in the fields of science, engineering and art.

Joe Markovich related an interesting story to me this week. You may remember that Joe and his family built a car that competed in the 2011 race. His son, Chris, is a senior in high school. Chris’s goal is to go on to college next year and major in engineering; he would like to be accepted to a school that is recognized for its outstanding engineering program. These schools can take their pick of students with excellent grades who are applying each year.  Only the top students are invited for admission interviews, but the field is still large so the interviewers are looking for something special in the students that are finally accepted. Of course the interviewing professors are interested in Chris because of his work with robotics as a high school student but when he mentioned that he had competed in our race in Whiting last year the interviewer’s ears perked up. They were very curious about Chris’s vehicle, how it was constructed, what fuel it ran on, and how it performed. Chris and his father even showed them a You-Tube clip of the machine in action; this fairly bowled the interviewers over. Chris made an impression that will be remembered.

This story illustrates the importance of going above and beyond to be noticed and might spur local high school students and their teachers to field a team for our 2012 competition.

The broader point is that in order to solve the problems that our nation faces, technologically, socially and spiritually we must all go above and beyond our normal routine and “reach for the stars” so to speak, for the solutions.

It takes extra work and effort to turn our ideas and inventions into reality. Our Race for the Future is a call for this effort. If we are going to remain strong as a nation and become energy independent we must be bold and get up off our keasters, roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Helen Keller remembered talking to a friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods When she asked her friend what she had observed, her friend replied, “Nothing in particular.”

“I wondered how it was possible”, Helen said, “to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing of note. I who cannot see find hundreds of things; the delicate symmetry of a leaf, the smooth skin of a silver birch, the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. I who am blind can give one hint to those who see: use your eyes as if tomorrow you will have been stricken blind.

“Hear the music of voices, the song of a bird, and the mighty strains of an orchestra as if you would be stricken deaf tomorrow.

“Touch each object as if tomorrow your tactile sense would fail.

“Smell the perfume of flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow you could never taste or smell again.

“Make the most of every sense.

Glory in all the facets and pleasures and beauty which the world reveals to you. “

“My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement”

I felt, indeed, privileged to be invited to such an event which honored so many of the innovators of our region. These folks are the idea people and more importantly the action people of Northwest Indiana, the thinkers and doers. From politicians to doctors to inventors and business heads; all were present to support innovation and celebrate creativity and the passion for the work of innovation which is to leave the next generation of this world in a better place than where we found it.

All of those who have sacrificed time, money and effort to take up the challenge that we have laid down as our “RACE FOR THE FUTURE” must also be celebrated as innovators and doers. Sacrifice was involved, to be sure, what good might we all see of this effort? Time will tell; but for sure, we will leave the world better off for our efforts.

The car is going back to the basement

Here we are at the end of September in the back yard wrapped up and safe from the fall rain storms that we have had.

Actually, I sat and looked at this scene last Sunday and could not bring myself to begin the disassembly process. I have to remember where every nut and bolt goes so that I can put it back together in the spring.

I am very excited about the 2012 competition. We are revising the rules, inviting more folks with ideas to the table and hopefully inspiring greater creativity.

Keep working; never stop thinking and inventing!

First of course is Joseph Stahura, Mayor of Whiting. He believed in our race from the beginning, even while it was no more than an idea.  With his support and the backing of the city of Whiting, the police department and so many others in town the race became a reality.

I must also thank our advisory board, who are the real brains behind our yearly event. The board is made up of engineers, designers, inventors and idea people who contribute to the rules and objectives of the race each year.

The Whiting/Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce, graciously , let us use their beautiful new office as the head quarters for our race and Carol Jacobson, President of the Chamber, could not have been kinder in her support of our event.

No event, in Whiting, could succeed without the expert help of Norb Dudzik. He is a “go-getter”, If something needs to done Norb is your man. Norb made sure that all was arranged with the city so that our day went off very smoothly.

My son, Bill, a fine artist, produced an original poster for our event (he is already working on a new design for next year).

Carrie Gallagher, my dear daughter, is our event planner. She ordered the food, made the inventor certificates, and took care of all of the many details that made the event so pleasant. Carrie is expecting her second child (my third grandson) any day now and could not make it to our race so Val my daughter-in-law, stepped in and pulled the day off to rave reviews. Janet Coyer lent a hand and finished off our inventor plaques as well as assisting Val.

Before  we began the day, Paul Vail, Pastor of the New Life Christian church in Whiting asked for a blessing on our event.

My brother, Mark, was my right hand during the race and picked up and handled anything  that  I missed.

John Frett and David Branch inspected the race vehicles to ensure the safety of their drivers and their compliance to our rules. John must be thanked especially for his attention to detail and his concern for the safety of all who attended the race in his rigorous questioning and testing of each vehicle especially one that proved to be most challenging……… thanks John.

My wife, Yo, although recovering from a bout with pneumonia, interviewed each contestant so that we can put a newsletter together recounting our race.

Ed Bach was our Master of ceremonies and we could not have chosen a better spokesman for our cause, he stirred the crowd’s excitement and kept them informed of the progress of the race.

Allicia Patten took care of the prize money for us, she wrote checks and spearheaded the voting for the most popular vehicle to enter the race. Everyone who received the correct prize money for their performance in the race can thank Allicia for her work.

To progress the race we employed a lead car and a chase car. The lead car drivers had to know the route and lead the race cars through the course. Lead cars (and in this case motor scooter) was Fred Behrens and Mark Halliar II, my son Bill and brother Mark also acted a chase drivers.

We decided to test out our idea of a speed race this year (in the event that two or more vehicles can negotiate our five mile course a 1/8 mile speed race will determine the winner or the contest). Don Kroesch headed up the speed trial and set up the course for the day, he was assisted by John Simmons, Mark Harbin and David Branch.

I have to thank the brave and audacious drivers, and inventors, who competed in our contest this year; Joe Markovich (and his entire family), Robert Evans, and Tom Kimmel, after all there is no race without contestants.

My friends, thank you all for making the Race for the Future 2011 a success, now let’s get busy planning for 2012!!

Bill

Race Day 2011