World Solar Challenge: Updates from Adelaide!

[Principia Solar Car Team]

Day 19: Saturday

While other mornings were “early,” this last day of the race takes the cake with a 03:50 wakeup and 04:30 departure from the campsite, trailering Ra X to a charging spot about 32 km from the finish line.  This would allow us to cross the finish line and complete the race before the midday deadline. The temperature was 7 degrees Celsius with patches of thick coastal fog.  However, there was bright, direct sunlight at dawn at our charging spot.

Driving into the heart of Adelaide proved to be a dramatic contrast to the Outback, which only involved fewer than ten turns and about five traffic lights during the last 3000 km. The Route Notes provided for us by the World Solar Challenge typically list kilometer markers and cross-roads every 10-15 km so teams can track their progress. However, in the city today, they had us checking off landmarks such as "Traffic Lights," "Pedestrian Traffic Lights," and “Speed Limit 60 kph” every few blocks!  It was a lot to follow, but we had studied the notes in advance so Lead and Chase did a great job guiding Ra X to the finish.  The team completed 2390 km (out of the total 3022 km) solely on solar power!

Downtown Adelaide is beautiful.  The architecture varies from modern and older styles.  As we  rolled into Victoria Square, the cathedral’s bells rang for the new hour.  The end of the race featured a large finish line archway and a fenced, red carpeted driveway down to the middle of the urban center park.  Once Ra X hit the end of the carpet and Jackson Walker spoke publicly on behalf the team, we all inwardly, and outwardly as well, felt a great sense of accomplishment and also briefly sighed in relief. 

We made it to the end!  We spent a week out in the Outback and survived the heat, humidity, dust, bugs, road trains, and even a willy-willy (mini-tornado).  Our car moved well and we grew close as a team.  While we could always ask for more things humanly, we can all metaphysically recognize that Good has manifested itself in so many ways.  All we can be now is grateful. 

Following the fanfare associated with the end, we couldn’t relax right away.  We quickly assembled at our place of lodging to sort and pack our gear for shipment home.  We de-stickered the rental vehicles, cleaned our equipment, and finished packing up the crate in its entirety to be shipped back to the United States over the next few months.

At the start of the race, Principia was one of 25 teams in the Challenger Class.  Due to clouds, storms, or other factors, 13 teams needed to trailer their solar car at some point, including us. Within the 12 who finished in the Challenger Class, Nuon (The Netherlands) finished first, University of Michigan took second, and Punch (Belgium) came in third. The only other American team to finish  in Challenger Class was Stanford in ninth.

For teams like us, who switched to Adventure Class, rankings have yet to be assigned - and may not be.  When we left Challenger Class, we believe we were in 13th place, which means we were one of the last few teams to require our trailer.

Here’s to the next wonderful race to be set before us!

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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