October 2008 Archives

At a webinar Thursday evening for solar car teams, it was announced that if 10 teams commit the $4,000 entry fee by January 1, 2009 there will be a track race this summer.  While the exact dates were not given, they are looking at having it at the Cresson Motorsports Ranch in Texas, the same location as we had scruitineering and qualifying for the 2008 NASC.  While we have not committed at this time, we are planning for it.  It will be the second running of Solar Miner VI, but with some improvements since the last time.  As always, your support is what makes it possible for us to go out and compete in these events.

I know it has been a couple months since our last update.  After using the month of August to rest up and prepare for classes, we have begun design of Solar Miner VII for the expected 2010 North American Solar Challenge.  The first step was to go over the many problems of Solar Miner VI.  Expect to hear more about that in the upcoming month.  We have also just about finished dealing with some leftover problems from the race, the biggest being getting out of the red from overspending during the competition.

Thursday three of our team members (Caleb Bredlow, Adam Lewis, and myself) went with a team advisor (John Tyler) to a presentation and car showing at Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO.  We gave a short presentation to their Science and Math students, as part of their weekly Thursday seminar, and then had the car outside for people to come see.  Of course all of the little kids enjoy climbing into the car, and sometimes convince their teachers to try it out.