the EPA 'combined' estimate is based on 55% city and 45% highway. I guess I'm cheating competing against that estimate, since my commute is about 85% highway. Oh well, we're all using the same combined estimate, so I guess that makes us even. :) I saw one entry in the garage which said it was using the "correct" estimate based on his actual amount of highway driving. I guess he's AR. hehehe

Well we could always make it like the Tour de France. I guess heavy pigs like mine could compete for the green jersey despite the paradox of that while the lightweights could get the polka-dot jerseys... ;)

Couple of thoughts:

Aircraft performance (MPG is just another corner of the performance envelope) are always compared at max gross weight.

Trucks and trains are evaluated on the basis of ton-miles per gallon, but the tonnagge is only the payload tonnage. Payload ton-miles are what the billing is based on.

Trains get staggering ton-MPG. 600 ton-mile/gallon is common.

Trucks that get 7 MPG loaded to 25 tons of payload (175 payload ton-miles per gallon) are common as dirt.

Ok, what about when there is no EPA data on a vehicle? I like the weight thing. I think I win...LOL!

I'm intrigued by this I really think the % over the current EPA rating would be a fair challenge. It would be a challenge because then no one is favored and the challenge is to better the EPA rating by the largest amount over a 90 day period. the gas receipts and ODO readings need to be verified probably with photographs.

I'd win since I have no EPA standard. 1,000,000% increase...LOL!

Our club is holding Economy Run events and we in fact have a weight factored award. This is how it works:

Best ton-mile per gallon [TMPG] vehicle weight in pounds, divided by 2000, times miles driven, divided by gallons consumed. A handy calculator is here.

Our next event is October 5th and details can be found here.

Has that event been held before? I'd be interested in seeing results from it...

Yes indeed. The results are here.

Mike

That's cool. I like seeing the 95 Suburban in there... ;) His mileage isn't all that good though. Even driving my 98 K1500 (same body, pickup model, probably same engine((350 V8)), and 4wd) I get better than that in stop & go driving. If it was a little closer I'd consider going to something like that.

-Jay