Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association Dissolved
At the end of December 1, 2018, the Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association (MHPVA) no longer exists as a non-profit association. A decision was made in 2016 by the MHPVA Board to dissolve the organization due to a declining number of active members willing to take on running the organization. For more about the dissolution of the MHPVA visit http://mhpva.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-last-mhpva-annual-meeting-march-5.html
While the MHPVA will no longer exist as a formal organization, individuals are planning to still run the annual early summer Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally as an independent event. Also the MHPVA web site (www.mhpva.org), blog (http://mhpva.blogspot.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mhpva) will continue on but functioning as information sources.
The MHPVA was formed as a chapter of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association in July 1984, following the second annual Midwest Human Powered Vehicle Rally, organized by Terry Gerweck and Mike Eliasohn in Monroe. The rally was eventually renamed the Michigan HPV Rally. It was been held every year since 1983, except for 1989, when in place of the Rally the MHPVA helped conduct the International Human Powered Speed Championships at the Michigan International Speedway, and 2009, when the MHPVA helped run the Michigan Human Powered Speed Challenge at the Ford test track north of Detroit.
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The Michigan Human Powered Vehicle web site is for those interested in innovation and creativity in the design and development of human powered transportation – on land, water and in the air.
Related to human powered vehicles (HPV's), the Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Assoction (MHPVA), until it desolved in September 2016, sponsored the oldest continuous competition for HPVs in North America, the Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally. The Rally is expected to continue in 2017 and beyond, but as an independent event at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track in Clarkston, the site since 1986. The rally has attracted as many as 50 competitors from numerous states and Canada. Events include one-hour time trials, top speed runs, a hill climb/coast-down, standing start kilometer, road races and a practical vehicle competition. Instead of the rally, the MHPVA has twice conducted major events.
The MHPVA itself was founded in 1982 (for more early history of the group click here). In 1989, the MHPVA hosted the 15th International Human Powered Speed Championships, with most events at Michigan International Speedway. Approximately 75 land and water vehicles came from all over the United States, plus Canada and France. In 2009 the MHPVA helped sponsor the Michigan Human Powered Speed Challenge at the Ford Proving Grounds near Romeo, Michigan. Fifty-four competitors came from all over the United States, plus Canada, France, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Mexico. Ten world records were set, including the farthest any man or women has pedaled a bicycle in one hour, six hours, and over 100 km and 100 mile distances.
Michigan HPV stories and past activities of the MHPVA (with some interesting human powered vehicles both on land and water) can be seen at http://mhpva.blogspot.com. The MHPVA had also from its inception has been a chapter of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (www.ihpva.org).
The former MHPVA Facebook page at "Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association" is also still active and please consider "Liking" it at https://www.facebook.com/mhpva
Also in Michigan is the Wolver-Bents Recumbent Cyclist (www.wolverbents.org) which is pretty much a "static" website about recumbents and Michigan. There also is a Wolver-Bents Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wolverbents.
Michigan HPV/Recumbent Events
Michigan HPV Rally - Traditionally held in June at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track in Clarkston (SE Michigan), this is the oldest racing event for HPVs – open to any pedal-powered vehicle – in North America. All the details as to the individual events, schedule and entry fee will be posted once they are decided, but expect the rally to be similar to past years (to download a 2017 Rally flyer, click here). Free camping will be available Friday and Saturday nights. If you have questions or comments, e-mail Tedd Wheeler at teddwheeler@hotmail.com. Also, visit the MHPV blog at http://mhpva.blogspot.com/ for additional information and updates.
MHPVA General News
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Results, and photos, of the June 2018 MHPVA Rally can be obtained by going to "2018 HPV Race Results And Pictures" and clicking on "2018 Michigan HPRA Racing results" and going to the photo links there.
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For more news about Michigan human powered vehicles, visit the MHPVA blog by clicking here.