Solar Flare Newsletter (Final ASC 2016)
Principia Solar Car Team
Good morning solar enthusiasts!
I apologize for the delay in getting this last update out. It has been a very busy last few days as the team completed the race and traveled back to our campus in Elsah.
The final day of the race, Saturday, was a hard one for everyone; once again we did not get much of a morning charge, and the previously day had been entirely under light clouds. The final leg, from Scott's Bluff, NE, to Hot Springs, SD, seemed like 156 miles of uphill climbs in the clouds and rain. Actually, that describes it pretty well.
As with all stage stops, the teams were released from Scott's Bluff with a one-minute gap between them. On this leg, many of the teams stayed quite close together for the first 50 or so miles due to the poor weather conditions. All of the teams had low battery packs. The five teams that had completed the first three stages solely on solar power, including Principia, had even lower packs than those who had trailered during previous stages.
We were the fourth team out from Scott's Bluff and for the first 20 or 30 miles, stayed behind Michigan, Dunwoody, and Toronto. As we held our steady pace, it became clear that we would need to pass them if we wanted to maintain our speed and strategy. The three teams were stacked one right after another, so if we were going to pass one, we would have to pass all three. When the moment was right, we moved into the left lane and began the three car pass. We had to make the pass in two sections, but we passed all three teams successfully and safely before continuing on our way. This move was the first time that our team has passed the University of Michigan while their car was moving down the road, as opposed to when they were stopped by the side of the road for a repair.
Our weather reports called for partially cloudy skies ahead and our strategy was based on these reports. Unfortunately, the weather conditions continued to get worse as the day went on, resulting in the pace becoming slower and slower as our battery pack ran down.
About 90 miles away from the finish line, we had to call it quits - our car had no more energy to give, and there was no sign of the sun. We had stopped and tried to charge for 30 minutes after which we then drove an additional 1.7 miles. But the hills were too large for us to climb. We were all pretty sad and disappointed as we loaded Ra9 into the trailer, but as we continued towards Hot Springs, we realized that we ran the best race we could have, we tried our hardest, and performed to the best of our ability.
That helped us come to terms with the fact that we had to trailer, and we made the rest of the journey in good spirits. As we drove toward the finish line, we saw the conditions went from bad to worse for solar car racing - large uphills coupled with thick clouds and rain that caused more and more cars to pull over and trailer.
At the finish line, we stayed to cheer on the other teams as they gradually rolled in. As it turns out, there was only one team out of the 12 competing (and 24 teams that signed up for the competition) that was able to make the entire journey only on solar power - the University of Michigan. No surprises there, but we clapped and cheered for our friends as they came across the finish line. It was a tough race and it is awesome that they were able to do it all on solar. Two other teams, Montreal and Appalachian State, were able to finish the last day under solar power, but they both had trailered on previous stages and started the day with more energy in their battery packs.
As each team finished, their car was post-race inspected and then left on display for the public to see. We pulled Ra9 out of the trailer and mingled with the other teams displaying their cars. After about an hour of display, we loaded our car up and went to our motel. The team met in one of the rooms for a debrief of the race and to share gratitude about the experiences we’d shared. It seems like a long time since we arrived in Beaver Falls, PA, for scrutineering and FSGP; we’d experienced so much since then and there was a lot to be grateful for.
Following our team meeting, we walked next door to the Civic Center where the banquet was held. There, we traded shirts with other teams, chatted about the race, and had a good time interacting with everybody. Following the banquet was the awards ceremony, which celebrated the innovations, the obstacles overcome, and the performances of the participating teams. The Principia Solar Car Team finished fifth overall with a time of 64 hours 32 minutes and 4 seconds.
For more information:
http://americansolarchallenge.org/the-competition/ascfsgp-2016/
There was also an opportunity for any team member to give gratitude to other race participants, an exercise that demonstrates the camaraderie and support that underlies the competitive side of these Challenges. It truly was a great race and we are so grateful to have been a part of it. It was exciting to hear quite a few teams express gratitude for the help they had received from Principians. One member of our team voiced the shared sentiment of gratitude for the race organizers, observers, and other volunteers whose dedication and commitment made the 2016 American Solar Challenge a reality.
Thank you all very much for your support throughout this race! We will continue to post on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so as always, check us out :)
Signing off for now!
- Solo Luminous
One Mind. One Light. Infinite Rays.