Students put the pedal to the metal

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A local college team gears up for another championship in a special vehicle competition.

A team from Rose-Hulman developed a human powered vehicle.

The driver pedals, like a bicycle, but the design of the vehicle maximizes the work.

That means it can hit speeds over 46 mph.

The team faced a lot of obstacles in its last win.

They squared off against schools across the country in a utility race, where it was not enough to be fast.

"There's speed bumps, there's a water shower, there's a slalom, you have to pick up groceries and unload groceries, there's stop signs, and you have to deal with all sorts of everyday events," Team Leader Jeffrey Van Treuren.

The team won a west-coast competition last month, and will leave Thursday to compete in a similar challenge on the east coast over the weekend.