# Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge

The Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge is a motorcycle fuel efficiency contest created in 1980 by motorcycle fairing inventor Craig Vetter. The contest was cited in Vetter's Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction.
The contest initially ran from 1980 to 1985, with the inaugural run from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek, Colorado. After a 25-year break, the contest resumed from 2011 with revised Vetter Fuel Challenge rules allowing for alternative fuel categories and requiring street usability including goods-carrying capability. This is considered a particularly important future need for electric motorcycles like the Zero, where battery constraints limit usable range, and the need for lengthy recharging cycles at public electrical points punctuates journeys and necessitates careful trip planning.
A streamlined motorcycle designed by Charly Perethian with a 185 cc Yamaha motor achieved 372 miles per US gallon (0.632 L/100 km; 447 mpg$_{‑imp}$) at the 1983 challenge, and is now displayed in the Smithsonian Institution.

## Results

Winners by year are tabulated below. Data as published by Craig Vetter at the contest website. All vehicles are full faired streamliners unless noted.
| Year | Location | Winner | Fuel economy | Model | Notes |
| 1980 | Colorado Springs–Cripple Creek, Colorado | Lammy Johnstone | 97.9 mpg$_{‑US}$ (2.40 L/100 km; 117.6 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | 1000 cc Harley-Davidson | |
| 1981 | Templeton–Cambria, California | Mike Hishki | 189 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.24 L/100 km; 227 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Honda Passport | Matt Guzzetta/Don Vesco "Project 200" streamliner entered, disqualified |
| 1982 | San Luis Obispo–Monterey, California | Charly Perethian | 282 mpg$_{‑US}$ (0.83 L/100 km; 339 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | 185 cc 1982 Yamaha | Vehicle now in Smithsonian |
| 1983 | Carmel–Carmel, California | Charly Perethian | 372 mpg$_{‑US}$ (0.632 L/100 km; 447 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | 185 cc 1982 Yamaha | Vehicle now in Smithsonian |
| 1984 | Carmel–Carmel | Masakazu Matsuzawa | 377 mpg$_{‑US}$ (0.624 L/100 km; 453 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Honda XL 125 | Record 557 mpg$_{‑US}$ (0.422 L/100 km; 669 mpg$_{‑imp}$) achieved by Dan Hannebrink on first stage |
| 1985 | Carmel–Big Sur–Laguna Seca | Masakazu Matsuzawa | 470 mpg$_{‑US}$ (0.50 L/100 km; 560 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | 1980 Honda XL 80 | |
Results from the 2010s can not be directly compared as there was a major rule change that required a minimum cargo capacity and minimum top speed. Additionally, winners were declared by cost spent on pump gas (or electricity), not strictly mileage, significant as there is a mix of motor types.
Craig Vetter hit a deer while riding his stream-lined Honda Helix on August 14, 2015. To help him stay focused on his recovery, volunteers helped coordinate and document the 2015 and 2016 Vetter Challenge Rides in Ohio.
| Year | Location | Winner | Fuel economy | Model | Notes |
| October 2010 | San Luis Obispo | Winner (by MPG)/Second place (by fuel cost) | 089.5 mpg$_{‑US}$ (2.63 L/100 km; 107.5 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Hayes Diesel motorcycle (not streamlined) | First public demonstration; bio-diesel |
| October 2010 | San Luis Obispo | Winner (by cost of fuel consumed) | 081.4 mpg$_{‑US}$ (2.89 L/100 km; 97.8 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Custom Ninja 250-engined trike | |
| May 2011 | Carmel | Fred Hayes | 128 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.84 L/100 km; 154 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Hayes MD670F2 Diesel motorcycle (semi faired) | |
| July 2011 | Lexington, Ohio | Max Perethian | 157 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.50 L/100 km; 189 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | 1989 Honda NX250 (semi faired) | 1982–1983 winner Charly Perethian designed; son rode machine Stock bike got 86 mpg on tests before streamlining |
| November 2011 | Las Vegas to Barstow | Fred Hayes | 133.2 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.766 L/100 km; 160.0 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed) | Achieved second place with 143.53 mpg at prior contest |
| May 2012 | Carmel | Fred Hayes | 109.6 mpg$_{‑US}$ (2.146 L/100 km; 131.6 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed) | |
| July 2012 | Lexington, Ohio | Fred Hayes | 143.6 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.638 L/100 km; 172.5 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed) | Electric motorcycle entrant had lower cost per mile but did not meet cargo requirement. |
| November 2012 | Las Vegas to Barstow | Fred Hayes | 125.92 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.8680 L/100 km; 151.22 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed) | |
| May 2013 | Carmel | Fred Hayes | 149.68 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.5714 L/100 km; 179.76 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed) | |
| July 2013 | Lexington, Ohio | Fred Hayes | 162.5 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.447 L/100 km; 195.2 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed) | |
| July 2014 | Lexington, Ohio | Alan Smith | 181.6 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.295 L/100 km; 218.1 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Kawasaki Ninja 250 (rider semi exposed, Vetter fairing) | |
| August 2014 | Wendover to Tooele, Utah | Terry Hershner (winner, cost basis) | 116.5 watt-hours/mile | Zero Motorcycles electric customized with 20 kW-Hr of batteries, and Vetter Fairing | 80 mph speed limits. 171 mile ride This was the first time an electric motorcycle was able to complete a Vetter Challenge with the liquid fuel bikes. At all other events, the electric motorcycles lacked range to complete the course with the group and were disqualified from winning the overall lowest fuel cost per mile. Hershner $.017/mile fuel cost Hayes $.023/mile fuel cost Smith $.026/mile fuel cost |
| August 2014 | Wendover to Tooele, Utah | Alan Smith (winner, pump fuel) | 139.3 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.689 L/100 km; 167.3 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Kawasaki Ninja 250 (rider semi exposed, Vetter fairing) | 80 mph speed limits. 171 mile ride This was the first time an electric motorcycle was able to complete a Vetter Challenge with the liquid fuel bikes. At all other events, the electric motorcycles lacked range to complete the course with the group and were disqualified from winning the overall lowest fuel cost per mile. Hershner $.017/mile fuel cost Hayes $.023/mile fuel cost Smith $.026/mile fuel cost |
| August 2014 | Wendover to Tooele, Utah | Fred Hayes (winner, alternate fuel [biodiesel]) | 164.0 mpg$_{‑US}$ (1.434 L/100 km; 197.0 mpg$_{‑imp}$) | Diesel streamliner (rider semi exposed) | 80 mph speed limits. 171 mile ride This was the first time an electric motorcycle was able to complete a Vetter Challenge with the liquid fuel bikes. At all other events, the electric motorcycles lacked range to complete the course with the group and were disqualified from winning the overall lowest fuel cost per mile. Hershner $.017/mile fuel cost Hayes $.023/mile fuel cost Smith $.026/mile fuel cost |
| October 2014 | San Luis Obispo to Salinas, California | Vic Valdes (winner, pump fuel and overall) | 187.0 mpg-US | Kawasaki Ninja 250 (rider semi exposed, Vetter fairing) | $.0176 / mile (winner of pump fuel and overall winner of this event having lowest fuel cost per mile) |
| October 2014 | San Luis Obispo to Salinas, California | Terry Hershner (winner, electric) | 138 watt-hours/mile | Zero Motorcycles electric (with Vetter fairing - missing windshield and front turret causing higher than normal fuel usage). | $.0225 / mile |
| July 2015 | Mike Corbin Appreciation Ride, California | Alan Smith (winner pump fuel and overall) | 177.0 mpg-US | Kawasaki Ninja 250 (rider semi exposed, Vetter fairing) | $.0203 / mile |
| July 2015 | Mike Corbin Appreciation Ride, California | Terry Hershner (winner electric) | 125.4 watt-hours/mile | Zero Motorcycle Electric (without fairing) | $.0219 / mile |
| July 2015 | Lexington, Ohio | Alan Smith (winner pump fuel) | 161 mpg - US | Kawasaki Ninja 250 (rider semi exposed, Vetter Fairing) | $.0174 / mile |
| July 2016 | Lexington, Ohio | Vic Valdes (winner pump fuel and overall) | 187 mpg - US | Kawasaki Ninja 250 (rider semi exposed, Vetter fairing) | $.0110 / mile |
| July 2016 | Lexington, Ohio | Kraig Schultz (winner electric) | 92 watt-hours/mile | Custom Built Electric with Vetter Fairing from the 1980's with Airplane Canopy | $.0126 / mile |
| July 2017 | Lexington, Ohio | Vic Valdes (winner pump fuel and overall) | 236 mpg - US | Kawasaki Ninja 250 (rider semi exposed, Vetter fairing) | $.0097 / mile |
| July 2017 | Lexington, Ohio | Virginia Tech (winner electric) | 101.9 watt-hours/mile | Zero Motorcycles Electric (with Vetter fairing and custom tail built by Virginia Tech student team) | $.0134 / mile |
Pictures of Winning Vehicles: