UMSolar: See the race live in Ann Arbor!
The American Solar Challenge is on, and Michigan started today from Rochester NY in the pole position. Want to see them (and the other ~dozen solar cars) live in Ann Arbor? Come to the stage stop near the Big House on Monday, July 16th!
The stage stop is held in parking lot SC36 on the corner of Pauline and South Main just north of the Big House.Teams will be rolling in and on display from roughly 11 AM to 6PM. Spectators can park for free at Pioneer HS. The event is free and open to the public.
If you can't make it on Monday, the teams will be leaving Ann Arbor at 9AM from the Black & Veatch office at 3350 Green Court (near Plymouth and US 23). They'll be in the sun charging starting at 7AM. Limited public parking is available at the site. This event is also free.
From AA, the team will be proceeding west across Michigan, including a 30 minute control stop at WMU in Kalamazoo.
For more info on the route and event, see the team's page.
Hope to see some of you there - these cars are impressive pieces of technology, and the team's sense of excitement and competitive spirit is infectious. Go Fast, Go Smooth, Go Blue!
RACE UPDATE: Racing is done for the day in Erie, PA. Today was a short leg of about 157 miles, which Michigan completed in just over 4 hours. Provisional standings are 1) Michigan, 2) Iowa State, 3) Minnesota, 4) Western Michigan, 5) Principia.
Clouds and scattered thunderstorms are predicted for the area tomorrow, which might make for a slow day.
By the way, that's image number 6 on a google image search for "Michigan State Solar Car". It's on MGoBlog. Image number 4 is a picture of the Michigan 2007 solar car.
Actually, MSU's entry for 2012 (per their solar car site anyway) isn't that different:
I must say, however, that it is not this, at least:
Here:
vs
When do they come through Lansing?
The giant GM SUV in the background amuses me for some reason. All gas savings from the solar car are offset as that monster chugs along behind it as the support vehicle. Good luck to the UM Solar Car Team though. Even though Baja is clearly the better car team (I say that only since I was on it).