CEDAR FALLS - A parking lot at the University of Northern Iowa was turned into a race track Saturday.

But there were no roaring engines or tailpipes spewing exhaust fumes.

Racers on five high school teams drove battery-powered cars that competed more for endurance than speed, striving to complete the most laps in one hour. Teams of students design and build one-person electric cars in the Electrathon program, which is administered by UNI's Center for Energy & Environmental Education.

The contest, south of University Avenue near the industrial technology center, was the final event in the season's Alliant Energy Iowa Electrathon championship series. Races take place in the spring and fall before teams begin working on the next season's car starting in October.

Teams made final preparations throughout the morning before the races began at noon, though. Before the races, participants were judged on car design, braking ability and maneuverability. They also turned in a written report.

Four students from Cedar Rapids Prairie High School were working on both ends of their car to get it ready.

"They're changing the gearing on it because we didn't have time to do it yesterday because we had the parade," said George Herman, one of the advisers, as a student put links in a chain between the engine and the single rear wheel. The car was driven in Prairie's homecoming parade Friday.

Other students were working on the car's front end alignment and wrapping electrical tape around the padded roll bars. The small, close to the ground cars can't be more than 12 feet long or four feet wide, according to Electrathon rules. They typically have aluminum bodies and steel frames with bicycle tires and chain-driven engines.

"You gear it according to the track," said Herman. When there are a lot of turns, as on the UNI track, the car needs a bigger gear. "If we hit 30 (mph) I'd be surprised."

Their car is powered by two 12-volt batteries, which were being charged nearby as the students worked.

"Then we need to make sure our batteries are up to snuff, because you can't recharge during a race," said Herman.

Junior Alex Falt said their goal during the race was consistency.

"Basically, run the same speed as long as we can so we don't burn up all our power right away," he said. "Everyone may be lapping up in the beginning, but we'll get them in the end."

Most of the cars had names of sponsors on the sides of their cars that help defray costs, although some components are provided to teams in a starter kit.

Other teams came from Pomeroy-Palmer, Muscatine, Manson Northwest Webster and Cedar Rapids Kennedy high schools.

UNI senior Craig Pawlak, student director of the Electrathon, said another nine teams from across the state and surrounding areas have either participated in races or are in some stage of building a car.

Over at the Muscatine team's trailer, students were scrambling to borrow tools as they prepared their car.

"This group, we have had a problem remembering stuff," said adviser Phil Fitzgerald, laughing. "I think all schools do."

Senior Abbas Pasha, the car's driver, was sticking electrical tape on some weights being stacked behind the seat to cut on down on the noise when they clatter.

"The requirement is you either have to have a driver who is 180 pounds or you have to add the right amount of ballast," said Pasha, who weighs 155 pounds. "Just so it's fair for everyone."

In the 3A division, car number 50 from Cedar Rapids Kennedy took 1st place with 57 laps, followed by car 40 from Kennedy, 53 laps, car 46 from Pomeroy-Palmer, 52 laps, car 41 from Pomeroy-Palmer, 51 laps, and car 30 from Kennedy, 35 laps.

In the 2A division, car 70 from Muscatine completed 52 laps to take first place. Car 40 from Cedar Rapids Prairie took second with 37 laps.

Contact Andrew Wind at (319) 291-1507 or andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.