May 2008 Archives

Missouri S&T has been designing, building and racing solar cars since 1993. So far, Missouri S&T students have entered eight different vehicles in various competitions around the world, each one emblazoned with the sacred number 42. The team won its first championship in solar car racing in 1999. Missouri S&T followed that up by winning a national championship in 2003. The 2003 American Solar Challenge followed Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles. The cars, which run entirely on power from the sun, use about as much energy as it takes to run a hair dryer. The 2008 race route starts near Dallas and ends up in Calgary, Alberta. Learn more about the team's history by visiting their new website: solarcar.mst.edu.

1. They drive a hot car.
2. Everyone loves road trips.
3. The sun always shines on them (unless it rains).
4. They don't need ethanol.
5. 8 states + 3 provinces + 10 days. Added together, it's half of 42.
6. Their good luck charm is a one-eyed Daruma doll.
7. Gas isn't going to get any cheaper.
8. We got Mo-Joe.
9. It takes more power to run a hair dryer than to drive a solar car.
10. If we win this race, we only need to win 39 more to have 42 championships.
11. See sunflowers, canola fields and wind farms, oh my!
12. We connect with alums border to border.
13. When else would you go to Medicine Hat?
14. Canadian loonies are stronger than American dollars.
15. The car gets a free pass through customs.
16. Technogeeks on parade.
17. The sun's not yellow, it's chicken! (according to Bob Dylan)
18. Canadian finish line? You betcha!
19. We're the only Missouri team competing this year.
20. LED blinkers.
21. We're more lovable than Michigan.
22. Jeepers! There's a Pieper.
23. Now they have a real steering wheel.
24. Why not?
25. See plains, trains and solarmobiles.
26. Solar power is the answer to everything.
27. You can park it, plug it in and run your house.
28. Kids think it's cool.
29. Sunshine on their solars makes them happy.
30. Because, because, because, because, because -- because of the wonderful things it does.
31. Drink Moosehead in Moosejaw.
32. We are Missouri S&T.
33. One-wheel drive.
34. Save gas. Surf the web (solar42.mst.edu).
35. Are we there yet?
36. The sun will come out tomorrow.
37. We don't fear turtles.
38. But beware of prairie dogs.
39. Watch the shadows!
40. Outrace Canadian mounties.
41. See solar cars on ice.
42. Our team is kind of a big deal.

Douglas Adams, the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, was right. The meaning of life is 42. At least, that's the story Missouri S&T Solar Car Team members are telling and they're sticking to it. Since 1993, students at Missouri S&T have built eight solar-powered cars, each one emblazoned with the sacred number 42.

In December of last year Bob Phelan, Chris Pieper, Nathan Steckel, and John Tyler took Solar Miner IV down to Miami for a video shoot. It was for a Chevy Aveo commercial in Europe. Just recently we have found the resulting video and you can see it below, or at YouTube.

Did you miss it? Watch carefully at 0:20. For all the money they spent, the car is on screen for less than second, and being pushed no less. Since you probably don't get the humor, he is pushing the car because it is in the shade of the bridge, but that doesn't stop us.

On May 16-18 we will be at Principia College in Elsah, IL having the car inspected. As there is no Formula Sun race this year, qualifying will be held only in the few days before the race, as will the final scruitineering of the cars. In order to give teams, like ours, a chance to correct anything that does not meet the regulations, NASC is putting on these events to check the cars before they arrive in Texas. We will be there with at least the teams from Principia College and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.