World Solar Challenge: Updates from Darwin

[Principia Solar Car Team]

Day 9 Wednesday

The Principia Solar Car Team has passed Static Scrutineering with all greens!  Yesterday was an exciting day as the team completed static scrutineering - changing the two red items from Tuesday into greens.  While it may seem trivial, the position of the official license plate became an issue for many teams, including ours.  During Scrutineering, the position of our license plate needed to be shifted in order to meet the letter of the regulations.  One of our team’s advisors (John Broere) went around speaking with other teams and race officials, and managed to help reach a compromise that benefitted everyone. For some teams, changing the license plate positioning meant making changes to internal structures of the car. Several team leaders from the other teams thanked our advisor for helping to negotiate a compromise that allowed the teams to meet this regulation without requiring many additional hours of effort.  We have two 30-minute sessions scheduled to drive on the track tomorrow (09:00 and 10:00) and will be doing the “Figure of eight” test at 12:30.

Besides completing scrutineering, Wednesday proved to be an overall lighthearted day for us.  We “slept-in," with breakfast at 08:00. At 08:45 we left for the track and spent two hours working on the car.  At about 11:00 we left the pit for a refreshing outing at Berry Springs Nature Park. On the drive over, many of our team members had their first introduction to Road Trains (trucks with up to four massive cargo trailers towed behind a large semi-truck) and massive termite mounds (some reaching up to 14 ft in height). The next couple of hours were spent floating along in an emerald green river that was both warm and cool. While the signs around the waterfront warned of crocodiles and other dangers within the water, the team and the locals paid them little mind as we jumped from rocks into the deeper pools along the river.

Last night we celebrated the birthday of our mechanical leader (Nicole Gerber) with dinner, cheesecake, and party lights on the deck of our living units. A cute Australian possum joined the party, entertaining us for a good chunk of time. And we sang Happy Birthday to Nicole no fewer than three time yesterday!

Overall, a great day! 

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Principia Solar Car Team

1 Maybeck Pl.

Elsah IL, 62028

Phone: 618.374.5290

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

[Principia Solar Car Team]

Good morning from Darwin! 

Yesterday morning we successfully tested at Hidden Valley Raceway with both of our primary drivers, Nick and Andrew.  Ra X also successfully passed the “Figure of 8" test early in the afternoon with flying colors - several seconds under the required time of 18 seconds.  In the afternoon our electrical team decided to resolve some battery issues by upgrading our battery systems to Version2.  While the car was down, the rest of the team worked on the array, sealing it and doing some much needed bodywork.  We were even a part of a news report on Channel 7 News Adelaide.  After most of the team concluded work for the day we headed to Mindil Beach Sunset Markets to round off our day.  

The evening was spent wandering the markets and enjoying some local flair.  We caught the last glimpse of sunset from the beach and enjoyed browsing through the countless booths with Australian opals, crocodile skin bags, and didgeridoos. Many of us had one place in mind:  Spiral Spuds. For five Australian dollars you could buy a spiral cut potato, fried on a stick, covered in the salt of your choice. After that it was a matter of cleaning our pallet with smoothies, and at least six of our crew sampled barbecued octopus. The night ended with a show of whips by Mick’s Whips, including whips on fire. It seemed fitting, considering the fact we’d be whipping into shape at the crack of dawn the next day.

Tom Brownell, Principia Solar Car alum, joined the team yesterday after his trip over the Pacific.  Tom will join Chad Reid in driving our truck down to Adelaide, in addition to sharing his experience and wisdom with current team members. .

Good day overall and excitement is rising for qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday. Thank you for your support of the team!

[Principia Solar Car Team]

Day 11: Friday

Having passed dynamic scrutineering and the Figure-of-Eight test, Friday was a quieter day for the team.  While thick clouds had teased us all week, it finally rained heavily for about a half-hour.  A few of our supplies got wet and reminded us of the need for water proofing!  A few team members went out and stood in the rain to cool off.  Then it was back to work in the pits. 

Ra X remained in the pit for the day.  While further work was being done on the car, alumnae Sten Palmer painted the back of our trailer with help from a few of our students.  (Thanks, Jake!) The artwork may be Sten’s best work - so far.  In addition to keeping the team happily fed, Alison and Sten did everyone’s laundry!  Friday was the first - and will most likely be the last - laundry day until the end of the race. 

One of our supporters, Daniel Powell, arrived today.  He is joining the team for our race down to Adelaide, ready to help us through to the end of the race and beyond. 

Team manager, John Broere, and student, Ava Lesko, represented the team at the official Welcome Reception at the Northern Territory Parliament House.  Ava met Hans Tholstrup - the man who built the first ever solar car (the Quiet Achiever) in 1982.  Ava enjoyed an engaging conversation where Hans shared many stories about his experiences with The Quiet Achiever.

 

The day ended with a team dinner at Amazing Thailand in downtown Darwin.  After “ enjoying” an octopus appetizer, the team was treated to food so spicy that it made you rethink your decision whether to eat it.

Today (Saturday) is dynamic scrutineering - which we will update you on tomorrow!

Thank you for your continued support throughout this race.  As we move forward we’ll especially be keeping in mind our motto, “One Mind, One Light, Infinite Rays” and the goodness that encompasses all of us.  Have a wonderful day!