Tanner's+Letter+of+Intent

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Tanner Whitlock P.O. Box 894 Dubois, WY82513 9/9/09

Senior Project Advisory Committee Dubois High School 314 Helmer St. Dubois, WY 82513

Dear Senior Project Advisory Committee,

The general topic of my project is “The History of Cars.” I am interested in the history of cars for several reasons. The first reason is my interest in engineering. Engineering was used to design the cars, and engineering is a career in which I have been interested for a long time and I am planning on perusing. I also have some previous knowledge of this field because I have worked at Straight Line Auto Body for the past two years and I have a good understanding of the design of modern and some classic cars. For the engineering part of this topic, I have job shadowed at Nelson engineering in Jackson and saw what engineers do on the job such as using computer assisted drafting programs to design sewer systems, much like I am going to use Google Sketch- Up to design my cart.

For my research paper I am going to do the overall history of cars. I am going to develop a chronological paper explaining the evolution of cars, including their uses, styles, designs and other aspects of their history. I am going to use several sources throughout the process of writing my research paper. I am going to use the internet, books, and primary sources such as Thomas Younge, the owner/operator at Straight Line Auto Body and Robert Dicken who works for spider carts.

Using the research of engineering and the evolution of cars I am going to design and build a go-cart. This project is going to stretch me in two ways. First, I am designing the whole go-cart from scratch and drawing the whole thing on Google Sketch-Up. This part will stretch my engineering ability which is the career that I plan to pursue in my future. The second way that it is going to be a stretch is that I have never built a project that big. I have built a few art projects such as a cross and a dimensional silhouette of an elk, I have also helped with welding parts onto a trailer. However this will be a stretch for my welding ability as well as my mechanical abilities because this is a total chassis of a cart and I will also be welding all other components of the cart. I plan to use Google Sketch-Up to design my go-cart and to create a materials list. I am going to weld a frame out of 1 ½” steel tubing. I will use a Polaris snowmobile engine and 4-wheeler tires. At this time I do not have exact figures, but the estimated cost for my completed project will be somewhere between $800 - $1500. My project will re quire well over 15 hours worth of work. My project will require 20-50 hours. I am going to incorporate the help of Mr. Robert Dicken from Spider Carts to help with the design. Mr. Dicken works for Spider Carts and he is an expert on designing go-carts. Thus far I have sent him some emails about the steering components of my cart. Mr. Brent Hibbert who is the shop teacher at Dubois High School, is an expert on welding and fabrication, he can help me with the welding and overall building of the frame of my go-cart. Another person I am going to incorporate is Mr. Thomas Younge who is the owner and operator of Straight Line Auto Body. Mr. Younge was a snowmobile racer for several years and is an expert on snowmobile engines which is what is going to power my go-cart. I will use Mr. Younge's help with the installation of the motor, breaks and clutches. I also will incorporate his help on the painting of the frame and components of my cart.

Finally I understand that if I plagiarize I will fail my senior project. Plagiarism is the act of copying or using other people's work and calling it your own. Plagiarizing could also cause suspension or possibly expulsion from school, thus affecting my overall GPA, graduation rights, and potentially ruining my future.

Student: __: Tanner Whitlock__

Parent: : __Candis Whitlock__

Research topic: __“**The History of Cars**”__