World Solar Challenge: Update from the Road

[Principia Solar Car Team]

Day 13: Sunday

Hello from the road!

This morning we began surrounded by “the greats” of solar car racing: Tokai, University of Michigan, and Nuon to name a few, in front of the Parliament House of Darwin. Thick clouds blew in and over us between 05:30 and 08:30, but quickly cleared to beautiful partly cloudy skies for the start of the race. The starting line was crowded with teams and public alike, many stopping to ask questions about the cars. We greeted our first observer, David O’Connor, from Adelaide, who will travel with us to the second control stop at Daly Waters. Following the team from Korea, Ra X began beautifully, with Nick Flanders behind the wheel, even passing several cars soon after starting.

The landscape along our first 100 km was dominated by gnarled trees and countless termite mounds. Our Support Vehicle took several opportunities to stop along the side of the road (also known as the Stuart Highway and “The Track”) and capture images of Ra X juxtaposed alongside the statuesque pieces of the Australian landscape. The sound of our communication radios, keeping all cars in touch with each other, helped to keep all alert and watchful over our car and driver. 

At about 170 kilometers from the starting line, the solar car experienced a mechanical issue that required us to pull off the road. With the quick arrival of our truck, our mechanical team--Nicole Gerber, Skylyr Cieply, and Jake Williams—swiftly and carefully fixed the car. The car made a quick pit stop one kilometer away at Hayes Creek to perform our fastest tow-in check ever! (Tow-in is one aspect of wheel alignment, which needs to be properly tuned to minimize tire wear and maximize efficiency.) In just 45 minutes Ra X was cruising on the road again. 

 Our driver for today, Nick, took the heat and road maneuvering like a champ. The team pulled into Katherine, the first Control Stop, 322 km from the starting line, at 14:09. The day ended at a near perfect end-of-day location with lots of flat ground a safe distance away from the Stuart Highway with great sun exposure to the west and the east!  The team stopped at 5:01pm at a distance 503 km from the starting line. After arriving, the team worked together to prepare our “home” for our first night in the Outback. We topped off a great day with a delicious dinner of Aussie burgers and fruit. While we may look a little weary from the travel, the deep joy for a successful day shines through our work together.  Rachael Schueler led our  Sunday Service where much gratitude was shared and the team read the article “Place Prepared of the Father” by Raymond S. March. A great ending to a great day! 

Here’s to another lovely day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Principia Solar Car Team

1 Maybeck Pl.

Elsah IL, 62028

Phone: 618.374.5290

so...@principia.edu
www.principia.edu/solar