ASC 2014 - Formula Sun Gran Prix

Submitted by Bronco648 on

Hi All, it's been a while since UM Solar has been in competition. After a rather disappointing World Solar Challenge, by UM standards, the team has rebounded and is currently sitting in P1 for the Formula Sun Gran Prix. As previously, the Formula Sun GP sets the starting slots for the American Solar Challenge. Basically, this is qualifying.

To sum up:

July 16 - Successfully passed thru scrutineering
 
July 17 - By End of Day, at 6pm, Michigan had completed 69 laps around Circuit of the Americas and was the only team to qualify for the American Solar Challenge. Michigan led the race for throughout the course of the 8 hours of racing. As of the end of Day 1, Michigan leads the second place team, Western Michigan, by 18 laps.
 
July 18 - UM Solar currently has completed 30 laps with Minnesota second with 27 and HAVIN third with 25. UM Solar continues to be the only team qualified for the ASC 2014.
 
Entrants:
Team # – Name
2 – University of Michigan
20 – Western Michigan: Sunseeker
256 – Oregon State
35 – University of Minnesota
92 – ETS Quebec: Eclipse
55 – Polytechnique Montreal: Esteban
8 – UT Austin
73 – Qazvin Islamic Azad: QIAU HAVIN
32 – Principia College
42 – Missouri S&T
9 – Iowa State: PrISUm
17 – Illinois State
57 – Southern Illinois University: SIUE
3 – University of Kentucky
6 – UC Berkeley: CalSol
13 – Michigan State
49 – Georgia Tech: Solar Jackets
96 – Western University: SunStang
179 – Massachusetts Institute of Tech: MIT
787 – Puerto Rico Mayaguez: SERRT
 
American Solar Challenge Road Race
 
Stage 1
Mon, July 21: Start at UT Austin in Austin, TX with a checkpoint at Weatherford College in Weatherford, TX
Tue, July 22: Arrive at stage stop at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK
 
Stage 2
Wed, July 23: Depart from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK with a checkpoint at the Wichita Aviation Museum in Wichita, KS
Thu, July 24: Arrive at stage stop at Black & Veatch in Overland Park, KS
 
Stage 3
Fri, July 25: Depart from Black & Veatch in Overland Park, KS and arrive at HDR sponsored stage stop at Mike Fahey St and N 15th St Parking Lot in Omaha, NE
 
Stage 4
Sat, July 26: Depart from HDR sponsored Mike Fahey St and N 15th St Parking Lot in Omaha, NE with a checkpoint at Iowa State University in Ames, IA
Sun, July 27: Arrive at stage stop at Western Technical College in La Crosse, WI
 
Stage 5
Mon, July 28: Depart from Western Technical College in La Crosse, WI and finish at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN
 
More information can be found on the ASC's web page  This includes the number of laps turned at Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Circuit of the Americas. As of now, only UM Solar has qualified for the ASC 2014. If you happen to be along the race route, above,, I'm sure the team would appreciate your support, while on the road.
 
As with previous races, I know there are ex-team members that frequent this board. Please provide feedback or correct me if I state something incorrectly. I'm just a motorsports and UM fan, nothing more. Thanks.
 
Go Blue!
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Blue Bennie

July 18th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^

Ok, I had never heard that before, and I've been to IMS many, many times...just never for the FSGG.

It would be like Manchester United playing on Old Trafford at Michigan Stadium.

Why don't they just call the track what it is?  When they are at Circuit of the Americas, they are racing at Curcuit of the Americas.  When they're at IMS, they're racing at IMS.  Seems dumb to me.

Joined: 03/02/2009

MGoPoints: 296

gbdub

July 18th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^

It's worth noting that Michigan brought Quantum, the 2011/12 car, out of retirement for this race. This is the same car that placed 3rd in WSC 2011 and first in ASC 2012. (Actually Michigan built two Quantums, I can't recall whether Q1 or Q2 is actually being used).

Reasoning behind this is that the American Solar Challenge rules differ from those used in the World Solar Challenge last fall. It was determined that Generation, the 2013 car, could not be easily modified to meet ASC regulations, but Quantum could.

Quantum is actually a faster car than Generation - last fall's WSC introduced several rule changes (primarily mandatory 4 wheeled configuration) that slowed the cars down.

Joined: 02/16/2010

MGoPoints: 26719

M-Dog

July 18th, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^

It's quite a statement when winning yet another National Championship and earning a top ten finish in the World is a dissapointing year.

But i've been closely following UM Solar for years and it was dissapointing.

We are Alabama.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257385