By Aaron Smith
student writer
Two Ohio University teams recently earned national recognition in two separate competitions. The Electric Bobcat Race Team completed its first ever first-place finish at the Salem Speedway in Salem, Ind., Sunday, May 19, by becoming the only car to finish the demanding track. The Ohio University team finished ahead of second place finisher, Ohio State University, and the third place team, Indianan-Purdue University at Indianapolis.
Cruse Moss, Bill Vartorella and DaimlerChrysler, among others, sponsored the Ohio University race team. Greg Kremer served as faculty team leader and Carrie Saunders acted as student team leader.
Vartorella said that he is proud to be a sponsor of the Electric Bobcat Racing Team.
"Joanna Craig and I (Craig and Vartorella, Inc.) join President Glidden in congratulating e-Bobcat Racing for its stunning victory at Salem," he said. "In our two years as proud sponsors, we have seen e-Bobcat achieve podium finishes, overcoming the usual trials and tribulations associated with racing in general and open-wheel cars in particular."
Eric Corll, president of the Electric Bobcat Race Team, said the Ohio University team won the race as a group.
"Despite being outpowered by all teams present," he said, "through setup, our trademark consistent reliability and the driving of Rich Brock, we were finally able to bring home the victory. The fact that we were the only car to finish says a lot about the quality of our team and our engineering department."
Another Ohio University team earned recognition recently as the Flying Bobcats grabbed 10th place, including an individual first place finish in the short-field landing competition, at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safecon Competition hosted by Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Kelly Dossenback took first place in the landing competition, which is one of the most sought out prizes in the competition, and was one of four Ohio University competitors to win individual awards. Nathan Hines took sixth place in the power-off landing competition and Angela Myers secured 10th place in the message-drop competition. Rounding out the Ohio University scoring was Kevin Durkin, who earned the Most Outstanding Team Member award.
Flight teams from 27 universities across the nation, totaling 321 team members, made it to nationals this year. To be selected for the National Competition, more than 55 teams from 11 regions across the United States competed for the top three places in their region.
"Considering the competition, which included the U.S. Air Force Academy, our flight team did incredibly well," said Juan Merkt, chair and associate professor of the Department of Aviation.
Merkt said congratulations should go out to all of the Flying Bobcats members as well as their assistant coaches, Bill Cyders and Kate Pressel, and to Jeff Stanley, the team's head coach.
"It was truly a remarkable team effort," Merkt said. "But without the dedication, time and effort put out by (the coaches), we would not have made it this far."
