<p>High school students from Granite Falls, Washington, spend time after school with their teacher, test-driving a homemade diesel-powered car they will use to compete in a national competition for fuel-efficient vehicles.</p><p>The students call themselves the ShopGirls and have named their car the Iron Maiden. The six-member team has spent many hours before and after school designing and building the car for the <a href="http://www.shell.com/home/content/ecomarathon/americas/">Shell Eco-marathon Americas</a>, which will be held in Houston, Texas, April 14-17.<br><br>(Read story: "<a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2011/04/110406-shell-eco-marathon-all-girls-team/">All-Girls Team Seeks Record in High-Mileage Marathon</a>")<br><br>Team members Katie Jackson and Semira Kern wait to see the car in action, while teacher Michael Werner and volunteer Curtis Sullivan consult with Shante Stowell, a senior, in the driver's seat.</p>

On the Road

High school students from Granite Falls, Washington, spend time after school with their teacher, test-driving a homemade diesel-powered car they will use to compete in a national competition for fuel-efficient vehicles.

The students call themselves the ShopGirls and have named their car the Iron Maiden. The six-member team has spent many hours before and after school designing and building the car for the Shell Eco-marathon Americas, which will be held in Houston, Texas, April 14-17.

(Read story: "All-Girls Team Seeks Record in High-Mileage Marathon")

Team members Katie Jackson and Semira Kern wait to see the car in action, while teacher Michael Werner and volunteer Curtis Sullivan consult with Shante Stowell, a senior, in the driver's seat.

Photograph by Harley Soltes, National Geographic

Pictures: High School "ShopGirls" Design for the Prize

An all-girl team of high school students from Granite Falls, Washington is building a car to compete in the Shell Eco Marathon.

Read This Next

Why seashells are getting harder to find on the seashore
The life of Lexington, America’s greatest racehorse
These Native Americans were taken from their families as children

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet