Oceanside's reVolt Systems Converts Fastest Tesla Powered Car

OCEANSIDE, CA — reVolt Systems of Oceanside specializes in producing high output electric drive systems for classic American cars. The company made news recently after converting the fastest Tesla powered car to date for Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Week.

Team Vesco’s “Little Giant” streamliner, originally a gas engine, went electric and debuted at the Bonneville Salt Flats for Utah’s 73rd annual Speed Week. Racing in the National Electric Vehicle Category 3 their top speed clocked in at 290 MPH and showed the racing world that innovative electric vehicle technology is here to stay. The team is led by Little Giant owner Rick Vesco and created by Revolt Systems owner Eddie Borysewicz, and Trenton Wonsley of Moon Buggy Engineering.

Vesco’s Little Giant 444 car uses a high output electric drive system with reconfigured and enhanced Tesla based motors and batteries, all assembled in the Revolt Systems shop in Oceanside, California. This car holds multiple records in the original gas-powered form, but this year Team Vesco partnered with Revolt Systems to see how fast it could run with two Tesla motors.

This is the first dual Tesla motor configuration used in a streamliner to date. “We are thrilled to partner with Team Vesco who are icons in the racing community, they represent excellence and integrity both on the track and in the pit,” said Borysewicz. “We worked tirelessly to be here competing for a record electric vehicle speed and we are all so proud of what’s to come in electric racing,” he continued. Key members also include Greg Peek, Al Vershave (AVS Fabrication), Nick Katrov (NDK Paragon), Drew Char, and Greg Snow. While the streamliner is in the pit it is charged with solar power using a Tier 4 solar trailer.

Team Vesco’s driver Eric Ritter out of New York is an exclusive member of the 300 MPH Chapter of Bonneville’s prestigious “200 MPH Club.” The Little Giant 444’s first record with Ritter came in 2012 at 339.339 miles an hour and he has personally topped over 430 MPH on the salt flats. “This conversion has a very smooth power delivery and these first few runs have given us a lot of data that we can use to recalibrate our ratios. The closer the ratio of distance and power the quicker we’ll get to higher speeds and see positive outcomes,” describes Ritter as he looks forward to the next race.

Team Vesco is a family race team that began with Rick’s father John Vesco back in 1933. Their other land speed vehicle, the Turbinator II powered by a turbine engine is the fastest car in the world. In 2018 it reached a top speed of 503 MPH. “Our team built the first wheel driven car to exceed speed over 500 MPH, and we are working toward being the next in a limited field to set a new record for the fastest electric streamliner in the world,” said Vesco. “Our team has been together for decades and our experience and dedication to the craft continues to make each day in 90+ degrees a lot of fun!”

“We’re pushing the boundaries of what is really early battery technology. What we learn today will shape how technology will develop and will ultimately change the competition in land speed racing in the years to come,” Wonsley, an Oceanside local concludes.

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