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Reliving our American memories one year on

Fife Lightnin's Greenpower USA race

· FifeLightnin',greenpower,STEM,international,racing

By Levana Starkey, Fife Lightnin'

In my fourth year of racing we qualified to be the only team in Europe that got to travel to America, chosen by 'Greenpower USA' as we have shown our commitment and creative skills at our local races along with qualifying for Internationals 3 years in a row. But instead of travelling to Rockingham, in England, for Internationals in 2019, we took the amazing opportunity to raise money to travel to Alabama, to compete against the other American teams. Thanks to the local donations from the Co-op shoppers and the Benarty Community Shop for their kind supportive funds.

Our car was taken away before we left, by 'The Forces Veteran Courier Service' who kindly sponsored us to transport the car to Aberdeen, to be crated and prepared for the journey, courtesy of ‘All Timberlines’. The car travelled at the same time we did, by plane via sponsor ‘Virgin Atlanta Cargo’ and 'World Cargo Logistics' who helped organise it all.

The journey there was just under twelve hours, broken up into three flights, which was organised by 'DP&L Group' who kindly donated a gift. Once we arrived in Huntsville, we met with Drew Sparks and his family who helped us get settled with our rental car and accommodation.

Fife Lightnin' with Greenpower USA President Drew Sparks at the start of race 1

The following days leading up to the race were filled with the following attractions and visits. Our first taste of our American experience was our lunch-time visit to ‘Taco Mama’ led by Drew and his colleagues, Zach (the Greenpower Attorney) and Jeff (on the Greenpower board). After our meal, we visited the Space and Rocket Centre (which was one of my personal favourite places to visit!)

During our trip to Alabama we found ourselves at a local school that is used as a meeting room for the organisation of Huntsville City Schools, who we joined on live television to be presented with a Resolution to honour what we have achieved that exceeded exceptional levels of excellence and high honour. I was also interviewed by local press at the race.

Levana Starkey, Team Manager, getting interviewed by local news journalist

While at America we were able to meet with another team, Patriot Racing, who came from a local school. We shared Scottish treats with them such as shortbread and Tunnocks tea cakes, which they much appreciated as most of them had never had one before. After getting a tour around their workshop and school we all got along very well and at the race the following morning shared two gazebos they had brought along, along with tools and other equipment.

Fife Lightnin in Patriot Racing's workshop, with both teams around Patriot Racing's 3 cars

Over the course of the race day we started off with scrutineering in a large hall with lots of other teams and their cars. We got acquainted with the other teams and spent about 30 minutes walking around the track, checking out the corners before we got in the car for the practice laps. By the time the first race came by the sun was shining high in the sky, and most people in the pits, who weren’t racing, were either enjoying a drink or something while they travelled round the track surveying the cars from difficult corners or near the finish line to keep track of how their team was doing. The first race progressed without too much problem, but in the second race our car faced a mechanical issue and had to be taken out to the pits.

We managed to quickly get back onto the race track and complete the race, progressing on to presenting a prepared slideshow for the race judges and marshals, to finally determine our position in the race. In the presentation our talk consisted of an explanation of our car and how we came up with some of the ideas and concepts. But the main discussion was about our journey through Formula 24, and how it has impacted us and the amazing experiences we have gained from it.

Fife Lightin' at the start of the second race, being videoed by a cameraman

Very shortly after we presented this talk to the race judges and marshals though, our team Fife Lightnin’ had to talk yet again, to all the many members of the teams, as we presented gifts to another American team, the GSMS Turbo Dolphins, who made a small replica of their car using a 3-D printer, along with a canvas signed by everyone in their team, with artwork of logos and racing symbols alongside it. Our team gave the GSMS Turbo Dolphins special treats and memorabilia in return. These consisted of many bags of tablet, biscuits and Scottish sweets, and a ceramic Scotty Dog filled with Scottish words and their meanings.

Fife Lightnin' with GSMS Turbo Dolphin's Racing Team

After our gift-swapping ceremony the prize giving began, where our Scottish team returned with a 3rd Place in Advanced Custom Build, and many American treats, including our own personalised mugs and Greenpower hats!

It was amazing to meet all the different teams, and by the end of the race day many team members from various schools were declaring their new found dream of travelling to Scotland to participate in some of our Scottish races, too.

Fife Lightnin' and Patriot Racing with Drew and Devin celebrating their 1st and 3rd place win

The car returned with the co-sponsorship of 'Cardinal Maritimes' as it was picked up in Huntsville, Atlanta, and driven by 'Landstar' to New York! It was then shipped to Manchester in England. Before being transported back to its home in Fife, 'Origin Logistics Solutions' were the ones that helpfully agreed to use a crane to move the crate with the car in, onto the boat.

We were very relieved to finally get our car back a few weeks after the trip, and we're ready and excited to start improving the car for the next season.