Off-day calculations

We should have better information tomorrow, but according to our very unofficial road calculations, the standings are as follows: Michigan, Principia, Germany (these first three are pretty much a sure thing), followed by Waterloo, Missouri S&T, Calgary and Minnesota. None of the other teams are really in the picture at this point. We saw Iowa State driving through town today, way behind.

Right now, the teams are traveling in three packs: the leaders, our pack, and the rest. As far as day-to-day racing goes, we've been back and forth with Waterloo, Calgary and Minnesota (pretty much in that order). So, depending on any penalties handed out by judges, S&T should currently be tied (more or lesss) for fourth place -- or at least fifth place. (At any rate, fourth thru sixth place should be tight.) How's that for accurate reporting? Sorry we can't be more exact right now.

(The reason this is so hard to figure out, in addition to the fact that race officials don't really make the information public, is because teams essentially start over after each stage stop. A team could do very well one day and pass a lot of other cars, but the elapsed time from previous days still counts against them in the long run.)

Anyway, we'll try to clear this up tomorrow. We'll be following the car to Fargo in the morning and hopefully up to the border in the afternoon. Do you think the Canadian border agents will let us interview them about the solar cars coming through?

Reminder to self: Change cash into Canadian dollars in Winnipeg.

P.S. In the interest of full disclosure: Michigan is way ahead of us (though Principia is allegedly within an hour or two of them). Race conditions can always change, but Michigan is a monster.

P.P.S. Our team moved across the street to the Ramada. Good for them. Meanwhile, we were too lazy to move all of our stuff, so we're still making friends with the cockroaches at the flea bag motel.

P.P.P.S. In case you haven't already checked, there's lots of new stuff up at Experience This! We're so dedicated to this race that we're double-blogging it.