Isabelle's Blog

Day Two

2008-05-14T04:56:00.000-07:00

My students day got to start 15 minutes later! They told me that they had to leave at 6:30am, instead of 6:15 am like yesterday. I’m sure that they could use those extra 15 minutes of sleep. Today I will be having a lot of visitors in the pits. It’s Static Consumer Acceptability presentation day, and my students will be showing me off to some judges. I have a great poster and some brochures all about me for them to learn how special I am. I also have to do my AVL drive quality test- I hope that goes okay. I though finals were over…I guess I was wrong.

Day One

2008-05-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

My students arrived today in Englishtown, New Jersey. We are being hosted by the Drag race track here, it’s quite exciting. During my annual checkup, it was noted that I had gained a bit of weight; I guess that’s what happens to you in college. I got some new stickers, and my students made sure I was okay after my long journey. Anything that they need was provided by this huge semi that was a garage and tool box on wheels. Most people called it a toy box because it was amazing. They had everything from glass cleaner to welders. My exhaust was completely taken out of me because I had 9 leaks at one point in time. Once we got my exhaust leak free, I passed tech inspection and even did a lot of my dynamic events!

I'm goin' on a trip and I'm taking...

2008-05-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

On this journey out East, I wasn’t with my usual Texas friends. Instead, I was with the California cars. Those guys are a lot of fun. Last night, my students spent the night with me in order to ensure that I was ready to be shipped. Hopefully when we arrive, they won’t have to make many repairs and pass tech inspection on the first day.

Time for the real world

2008-05-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

It’s finals time, and my students have been studying really hard. I have a feeling that I will be seeing a lot of them in the near future. I’m getting ready to get shipped out east. They have been working on final presentations for the last hurrah of Challenge X. I’m going to be sad when it’s over. Could we consider this my graduation? I mean, it’s my fourth year here, so it would make me a senior. I think that they’re even having a ceremony for all of us vehicles in Washington DC.

I'm a star

2008-04-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

I’m so exhausted from all my publicity appearances lately. Being “green” means that Earth Day for me is like Christmas for Santa Claus. I was on new channel 8 this morning as a celebration for Earth Day! There were lights, cameras, and interviews. A copy of all 4 up close and personal appearances are on the website. It was so exciting, and the weather was true Oklahoma weather. All of green country got to see me inside and out, and learn about why I’m so special. Later that day, I was on the U for the University Students to learn about me as well.

Happy Early Earth Day

2008-04-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

Today, I spent all day at the zoo, along with some other hybrid and alternative fuel cars. I was by the Lions and the penguins! Andrew and Kyle showed me off the people at the zoo. I even learned some stuff about the cars of the future, and hybrid vehicles in general.

Happy Late Valentine's Day

2008-04-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

I’m getting excited to go to the East Coast for the final Challenge X Competition because I’ve never been out east! My students were going to ship my battery off to be inspected because it was giving me problems, but I couldn’t bear the thought of missing another important part of me after being reunited with my beloved IPT. Now, all my parts are back together, including my battery. The students have been spending a lot of time with me. It feels like Valentine’s Day, only in April.

Package from Nowhere

2008-03-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while, but I’ve been motorless. I haven’t been feeling like my self due to motor shivering, but maybe it’s just the cold weather. My students sent it off to a specialist in October to fix the shuddering, and I just got it back today! My students will have it installed soon, and I should be back to myself again!

I want to go back to Disneyland

2007-12-03T18:41:00.000-08:00

My students just got back from the Winter Workshop in California today. We got to go to Disney Land! Mari, the Outreach Coordinator gave a presentation over the marketing strategy at the workshop, and told me it didn’t go so well. Does that mean they are going to sell me!? The best part from what I hear was that my students got to meet Jay Leno and tour his garage! Do you think he would ever let me join his family of crazy cool cars?

Legend of the one eye'd IPT

2007-10-25T18:16:00.000-07:00

My students have been in contact with the company that manufactures my IPT (Integrated Power Train) and the company says that they have found the problem, however, we don't know when I will be reunited with my dear IPT. It's as if I'm missing one eye.

More about this marketing stuff

2007-10-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

So my outreach coordinator came by to talk to me today. She told me that after November 15, I would be ready for puclic viewing. I'm going to be filmed, photographed and written about. It's like being the subject of the gossip column. She told me that I would meet more little kids, some important decision makers, and non-english speaking people. I better pull out my Spanish phrase book and start learning.

I was also put at ease when I found out that I'm not going to be sold. This marketing plan that everyone is scrambling about is going to be posted to our website on Friday, and breaks down how I'm going to be publicized, and how my students are going to educate others about my buddies and me, and what we do. I'm glad the outreach team finished the marketing plan, it looks really good, and really shows off all of the hardwork my students have done to make me a supercool car.

Midterms

2007-10-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it's midterm exam time, and I can feel it. I don't have any wheels on me, my battery is gone and my IPT is missing. It's like they took out half of my brain. Some students are working on repackaging the battery so that there is more room. They hope to sink the battery between my two back wheels like it was originally designed to do before I got a new one. The IPT is being sent for inspection because it has been giving me some trouble lately. Hopefully when it comes back, I'll run like I did before I was a hybrid.

Lucky me

2007-09-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

It's so nice to see all these new faces, and familiar ones taking an interest in me. I know that we have a new addition to the advising team for marketing. He's been getting the ball rolling on this marketing plan by explaining to all the engineers what a marketing plan is. This project is so cool, because it allows my students to mingle with engineers, businessmen, and musicians. It creates well rounded future employees that any company would be lucky to have

Fall Workshop

2007-09-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

My students just returned from Boston for the fall workshop hosted by the mathworks. I'm very excited for the up coming year. I'm going to California at the end of Novemeber for Thanksgiving, and then to the east coast in May. I can't wait, the students are going to be driving me a lot more, and I can't wait for the biggest road trip I've ever driven from NYC to Washington DC. I'll get to meet the legislators from OKlahoma! I'm starting to feel like a real celebrity. As much as I love traveling, I'm glad that I didn't have to go to Boston with a few of my students becuase that would have been a long ride!

This year's focus is not on my performance anymore. (That's a bit of a relief) It's more on marketing and getting the message out about better fuel consumption and emissions. Does this mean that my students are going to sell me to a stranger?

New friend!

2007-09-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have a new friend out here! It's a green EV1, electric car. It's so exciting. He tells me that not many of him were made, and he's very hard to find accross the US. I feel so lucky that he is spending some time here in Tulsa with me. I wonder if he starred in the movie about the death of the electric cars?

Is anyone out there?

2007-08-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

So, I think my students forgot about me because school has started. I guess they're really busy getting into the swing of things again. I see a lot of students every otherday, but none of them seem to pay me the slightest bit of attention. I guess they must be working on another car, but I haven't seen any around here...

I'm a junior!

2007-08-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

School started today. I wish that I could take really cool classes like my students do. I guess I would be considered a junior here at the university because I'm starting my third year here. I'm sure it will be exciting, and tough.

School is starting

2007-08-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed my month of Vacation in July! It's August now, and school is starting soon. I can feel the buzz of excitement, and all the activity around here now. There is a new team leader, her name is Amanda. Buck is still involved, but Amanda isn't graduating as soon. Not only has our team leader changed, I have a new Outreach Coordinator! Her name is Mari, and I've seen her around, I can't wait to get to know her better. I'm sure there are going to be some new leadership changes, and maybe even some more "subteams" added. We'll just have to wait and see

Traveling

2007-06-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

It's quite cramped in this trailor again, but at least I'm not by myself! I'm back with my buddies from Rose Hulman and Texas Tech. I'll be dropped off second, so I feel sorry that Texas Tech will have to go the rest of the way all alone!

Moving on Up

2007-06-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

After my students left me in Detroit, I had fun exploring the Milford Prooving Grounds with my other Equinox buddies. A few of the us got the star treatment from our friends at GM. Those guys were constantly running tests, and exploring why some of us ran how we did. I think I'm due homeward bound in a few days, and should be reunited with my students sometime in July. I have a feeling that they are going to disassemble me again.

I got 8th place overall in the competition this year! It was the same place as last year, but I feel this level of 8th place is much higher than last year's in Mesa. This year, we got first place in the Controls award! That's a step up from last year's 3rd! It feels good to win somethings!

Yikes!

2007-06-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

My buddy from Texas Tech got really sick today. He was leaking hydrogen everywhere, and the hydrogen pits had to be evacuated. It was not nearly as scary as when my friend from Waterloo fell off the lift, and disapeered for a few days...Things are always interesting up here in Milford.

Exile

2007-06-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

My students are here today! It's so great to see them all here. I'm alone with only 3 other of my buddies from Waterloo, Penn State and Texas Tech are outside working in the hydrogen pits, so I don't get to be as social as I'd like.

See ya on the other side

2007-05-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

I shipped this week. They threw a party for me. People came to admire me. That was wonderful. Then they stuffed me into a truck with a buddy from Texas Tech. I waved goodbye to my team and we were off! We stopped to pick up another friend from Rose-Hulman then drove onto Detroit.

While I was driving my OnStar computer was activated. That was nice knowing that I had another buddy with me even when my students couldn't be there.

It's great here in Detroit. I miss my students, but all of my Equinox buddies are here. It's quite the family reunion. Most of us have shed our old silver paintjobs. We have a bunch of new friends from General Motors with us and a few old friends are here too. This is a really fun vacation, but I miss my team. Hope I see them soon.

Busy, busy, busy

2007-05-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

My students have been really busy lately. Evidently I "ship" in a few days. I have a feeling I've shipped before. I don't think I liked it. In the meantime, it's great getting so much attention. They can't keep their hands off me. I've never felt better. Almost as good as when I was a young car just off the showroom floor.

I feel pretty

2007-05-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

I was feeling pretty bad about things, when they sent me away for a few days. I thought it was a bad sign, they had grounded me or given me up for adoption. The guy they gave me to took me apart. It was really grim. But, now, I look better than ever. A fresh coat of paint really makes a girl feel beautiful. That's my new paint job in my photo. I thought I'd show it off since my team spent their last pennies on that. I think it was worth it, don't you?

They love me again

2007-05-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

This week EVERYONE came to visit. People I haven't seen in years were there. They took me out in the sunlight and took a photo of me and all of my students. They also took lots of pictures of my insides and outsides. Sometimes they really like to invade my privacy. They said something about needing it for a Progress Update.

I hope I looked pretty in my pictures.

It all seems so final

2007-04-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

This week my students were really whiny. They complained a lot about final exams and the final report. I'm not real sure what all that means, but it doesn't make them happy and they seemed kind of grumpy. They all seem to resent me. Several had dark circles under their eyes. I had one good friend who spent a lot of time with me, but the rest tried to avoid me.

My team's advisor wasn't too happy either. I think she's the only one on my side!

FUUUUNNNNN

2007-04-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

This was a fun, fun week! They took me to the zoo this weekend! We were next to the Chimpanzees. My students talked to people about me all day, but I got to watch the chimps. Crazy! Also, I met a couple of really cute little kids. My students seemed surprised that the little kids would like me, but I'm adorable. Of course, they love me. Just ask all those people with cameras and microphones that came by to talk to my team leader.

Everyone seems like they're really happy today. Evidently this was the last day of classes. I don't understand why they get so excited about that. It makes me a little sad. Are they going to go away and forget about me again?

A sad day

2007-04-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

I know I said I would do this every Monday, but today was a sad day. I don't really know if I'm in the mood to talk about it. One of my friends' teams from the Challenge X competition had a tragic shooting at their school. I'm so sad, but maybe I'll be up to talking next week.

I hope they're all going to be okay.

Easter

2007-04-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what this "Easter" thing is, but evidently they hide eggs filled with candy. What a great idea! They must have done this on the main campus, but all day long, my students kept drifting through with candy. No one ever thought to share. I love my students, but they really can be selfish sometimes!

I made a lot of new friends this week!

2007-04-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

My students took me on the road to a couple of events this week. Friday morning we went to Tulsa Engineering Challenge. They all just called it TECh. Boy, there were a lot of smart kids there! Kids from the middle schools and high schools around Tulsa were there. There were competitions all around me. When they were between events they came to visit. I think a couple of kids just sat inside for a while because they were tired. I tried to talk them into bringing me some pizza, but nobody listened to me.

That afternoon my students drove me back home to HMW. I got a quick nap (it had been a long day) and then a group of high school girls came in with some of my students. These girls spent a lot more quality time with me. I really think we've bonded. They looked me over top to bottom. They spent a lot of time sitting underneath me asking my students to name my parts. A little creepy, if you ask me.

Freedom to Stretch My Legs - Got Caught!

2007-03-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

This was an exciting week. My students took me out for some test driving. I guess they've been locked up on the North Campus for too long, too. We really flew. It was great to stretch my legs ... uh, wheels ... after so long! Unfortunately, one of the faculty saw us on the road. I looked great! I'm sure they'd compliment me on my fine appearance, but no. . .

They were hopping mad. Evidently we were driving a little bit over the speed limit. What's with all these silly rules. We were having fun!

End of Spring Break

2007-03-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

My Outreach Coordinator has been nagging at me to start a blog. I'm not too sure about this, but I'll give it a whirl. First, let me introduce myself. My name is Isabelle. I'm a Chevy Equinox with a new soul. The team of students here at the University of Tulsa have spent the past couple of years modifying me. I don't remember too much from before they gutted me, but they sure keep me busy these days!

My students just came back from Spring Break. A few of them hung around with me and worked on my brain. (They call it the cRio--what do they know?) I do seem to be feeling a lot better lately. My hybrid mode works fairly well. I still seem to have a "hitch in my gitalong" as my grandpappy used to say. I hope they can get me fixed up pretty soon.