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A developer of a high-performance sports car hailed as an "electric dream" will be the keynote speaker at the fifth annual Georgia Tech Auto Show on campus March 29.
Paul Lomangino, ME 90, MS ME 92, PhD ME 95, will discuss his role in the development of the electric Tesla roadster, called a dream sports car by Newsweek. Despite its price tag of nearly $100,000, the Tesla also won Wired magazine's Autopia Car of the Year honors in December.
Wired said the Tesla is "easily the coolest alternative fuel vehicle ever made, one that proves electric cars can be every bit as breathtaking as the finest fossil-fuel-guzzling super cars. ... More importantly, the Tesla best represents the direction the auto industry must go."
Entries in the Georgia Tech Auto Show will be wheeled into place beginning at 10 a.m. in the Instructional Center parking lot. Judging will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony and speech by Lomangino.
Cars, trucks and motorcycles owned by Tech students, faculty, staff, alumni, fans and corporate sponsors may be entered. Awards will be presented in 10 categories, including unmodified automobiles manufactured before 1947; alternative fuel, electric or otherwise "green" vehicles; race cars or experimental vehicles; and students "beaters."
Registration is under way at www.gatechautoshow.com. A tax-deductible donation to the Georgia Tech Foundation is encouraged. Suggested donations for car and truck entries are $15 for students, $35 for faculty and staff and $75 for alumni. The donation breakdown for motorcycles is $7, $17 and $37.
Funds raised above the operating expense of the show will be deposited into the Georgia Tech Foundation account for the support and renovation of the facility used by such student design teams as GT Motorsports, GT Off-Road, RoboJackets and Wreck Racing.
Registration deadline for showing vehicles at the Georgia Tech Auto Show is March 26. There is no spectator fee to get an up-close look at the 400 cars, trucks and motorcycles expected.
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