The cars are "stunt mobiles" the girls built for Odyssey of the Mind, an international education program designed to test the creative problem-solving skills of kindergartners through college students. The team from Willow Glen's St. Christopher, dubbed "Girls A Go-Go," took first place in the state tournament in Visalia on April 9 and will go on to the Odyssey of the Mind world finals, scheduled for May 21-24 in Boulder, Colo.

"We are ecstatic since this is our first year of participation," team coordinator Barbara Murrieta said.

Girls A Go-Go is the only team from St. Christopher's competing in Odyssey of the Mind. The team, which was also the only all-girl team in the group's division. The all-girl team includes Kimberly Kulisich, Isabella Colpo, Liza Talavera, Sophia Swain and Maria Lesieutre.

The St. Christopher team was tied with another team at the state competition, although members of Girls A Go-Go dispute the judges' call.

"We didn't really tie because we were ahead by 9/100th of a point," Maria said.

This kind of speculation is forbidden during the competition. Odyssey teams earn points for sportsmanship as well as their problem-solving skills. The team is also awarded style points for how well it explains its innovations. About one-third of a team's total score is based on how it tackles a spontaneous problem the judges throw at the group during competition.

"For the last three weeks, they've been meeting at recess with my wife, who teaches math here, to do spontaneous problems," said Dan Lesieutre, who coached Girls A Go-Go with fellow volunteer parent Margarita Colpo.

Each year Odyssey of the Mind competitors choose from five challenges, some more technical than others. At first the girls were torn between the stunt car and crazy column challenges. The latter challenge required teams to build a structure within rigid specifications and design it so it can support a certain weight.

"We like challenges, and those were the two hardest problems," Isabella said.

Girls A Go-Go devoted many weekend hours, starting in November, toward building two cars that could perform specified tasks on five tracks. The cars had to run without the benefit of a power source, so developing a working model took a lot of trial and error.

"There was a rubber band car, and that was just terrible," Sophia said.

One car handled courses such as the long shot, which involved a long, straight ride with the goal of popping a balloon at the end of the track. The other vehicle was designed to climb steps, with some part of the car's body touching the steps as it ascended. The girls draped a flag off the back of the car that was long enough to brush the track. The flag was weighted with a penny hidden under a floral appliqué, earning the team points for form and function.

The team also found inspirational music that tied in to each track their cars ran. The car's stair climb was made to the strains of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

Several Girls A Go-Go members got to know students from other Odyssey of the Mind teams through pin trading. The lapel pins are purchased at the event and traded. Sophia said she's looking forward to trading pins with students from other countries at the world finals. Sophia has already bonded with her fellow team members.

The St. Christopher's team needs to raise $10,000 to make the trip to the Colorado world finals. The team is organizing several fundraisers, including a bake sale on May 1, at the school, 2278 Booksin Ave., from 8 a.m. to noon.