OUR STORY 

In 2021, HHS student OWEN JOHNSTON founded the HARRISONBURG HIGH SCHOOL Electric Vehicle Grand Prix team. Owen's grant, combined with funds from Harrisonburg City Governor's STEM Academy and the HHS CTE Department of Harrisonburg High School was used to purchase a kit including a steel chassis, fiberglass shell, and necessary electrical and hardware components. 

​

Season 1 -  Race on May 21, 2022 

Our first season featured the construction of our Blue Streak Car #445. The goal? To not turn the frame into Swiss Cheese. In all seriousness, our main goal as a first-year team was to create a functional vehicle to race in the spring. However, the team was able to far surpass this goal and even added a rudimentary data collection system. Team members Owen Johnston, Niranjan Aradhey, Emma Swartz, Jonah Lee, Johanna Mayfield, Monica Espinoza-Martinez, Peter Johnston, and Dylan Maynard brought home three awards: Technical Innovation, Vehicle Workmanship, and the Women in Science and Engineering Award. In this season, Team 445 ended in 5th place overall. 

​

Season 2 - Race of May 13, 2023 

At the kick-off to the new season, our team jumped on the chance for HHS to be represented by two vehicles. Thus, the first season for car 554 began. Team 445 consisted of Niranjan Aradhey, Emma Swartz, Johanna Mayfield, Monica Espinoza-Martinez, Joshua Nafziger, and Jackson Calhoun. Team 554 consisted of Peter Johnston, Dylan Maynard, Sergi Kravchuk, Colin Snider, Davis Bert, Jack Rooker, and Oscar Wang. 

As the race date approached, team 445 improved their real-time data system and installed better batteries, leading them to win 2nd place in the Shenandoah Valley EV Grand Prix. Our teams also brought home the 2nd place Technical Innovation Award, 2nd place Funniest Video Award, and 1st place for Best Use of 3D Printing.

Team 554 worked hard throughout the season to complete their car. On race day, 554 came in 7th position overall and earned the Teams Sportsmanship Award through Oscar Wang. A few minutes before racing, the Sherando Team #185 found they needed a second driver. Oscar volunteered to fill the spot and brought Sherando to a 3rd place finish.

​

Season 3 - SURPRISE INTERNATIONAL RACE FOR TEAM 445

UAE RACE '24 - In October 2023, the remaining students from both teams learned that they were invited by the United States Embassy of Abu Dhabi to represent the United States of America as one of 5 USA teams in the 2024 United Arab Emirates EV Grand Prix held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Thus the season for 445 began, as team members Johanna Mayfield, Jack Rooker, Davis Bert, Monica Espinoza-Martinez, Peter Johnston, Joshua Nafziger, and Colin Snider worked through the winter to prepare for the March race.

​

SV EVGP RACE & DC EVGP '24 - NEW NAME FOR 554

In the new season, Team 554 was renamed the Rocktown Raptors. In the upcoming 2025 season, Team 554's new home will be the newly constructed Rocktown High School.

​

554 currently consists of team captain Monica Espinoza-Martinez, drivers Samuel Katykhin and Dylan Maynard, pit crew Josiah Nafziger, Eliel Cortina, and Elio Cortina, and additional engineers Samuel Walton and Bryan Mistiled. 

​

Team 445 also welcomed Vincent Rhodes, Luke Snider, and Claudia Allemeier.  

​

The HCPS EV Grand Prix Marketing/Design Team was formed by members Monica Espinoza-Martinez, Yong Sheng Yang, Zaida Wang, and Claudia Allemeier. During this season the team has created five ongoing projects: a running social media, the Rocktown Raptors shell designs, an official website, team attire, and future plans for team content.