The welder is in!

Hey guys, we just recieved our welder! This is a huge leap forward for the Aurora 10 team, as now they can begin welding on the new support pieces to help pass scrutineering smoothly.

Mr. Laird, from Celanese, has been a huge help with Kaelan and Spencer as they work on team organization and project management.

April 14th Learn 2 Live Green “Drive” Event

Mark your calendars now to check out Coppell Solar in April.

Five Texas Solar Car Teams will participate in the City of Plano’s Learn 2 Live Green “drive” event scheduled for Saturday, April 14^th.  Starting at Plano’s Classic BMW Dealership, teams will drive a 2.5 mile course taking them by seven corporate headquarters.  The teams will end their drive at the distinctive Shops-at-Legacy for a major display.  Last year’s event attracted more than 30,000 visitors.  

Participating teams include:  Byron Nelson Bobcats Solar Car Team (Trophy Club, Texas), Coppell High School Solar Racing Team (Coppell, TX), James Madison Solar Car Initiative (San Antonio, TX), Liberty Christian Solar Car Team (Argyle, TX), and the Piney Woods Raycers (Gilmer, TX).   

The Solar Car Challenge is presenting this special “drive” to support the City of Plano’s sustainability initiatives, and to promote engineering and alternative energy initiatives. 

Race Update

Plans are underway for the 2012 Solar Car Challenge, a closed-track event at the world famous Texas Motor Speedway.  This year’s race is the 17^th national event coordinated by the staff of the Solar Car Challenge Foundation.

Twenty-nine teams have filed an Intent-to-Race in the Solar Car Challenge.  Teams range from New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, California, Oregon, and Puerto Rico.  New teams forming in Cyprus, Egypt, India, and Canada will give the 2013 Solar Car Challenge a truly international accent.

There are 85 ongoing high school solar car engineering projects working towards participating in the 2012 or future Solar Car Challenges.  

The Solar Car Challenge at Festivals and Workshops

The Solar Car Challenge was well-represented at the Texas Science & Engineering Festival held in Austin, Texas.  The Stony Point High School Solar Car Team (Round Rock, Texas) was featured in a special TV news segment on Time-Warner Cable.  http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/281306/science-and-technology-festival-aims-to-inspire    The James Madison High School Solar Initiative  (San Antonio, Texas) represented the SCC at the Texas Science & Engineering Festival and the International Electric Vehicle & Auto Show.

James Madison High School Solar Initiative at the International Electric Vehicle & Auto Show

The Coppell High School Solar Car Team was selected by festival organizers to represent the SCC at the Official Kick-Off for the Science & Engineering Festival held on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. 

Criss Bartley, Team Advisor for the Piney Woods Raycers, represented the Solar Car Challenge at the Texas Science Teachers Association Conference held in Dallas in November, 2011.  And of course, our incomparable group of Solar Car Team Advisors conducted an outstanding Specialty Workshop in January.  A special thanks goes out to Mark Westlake (St. Thomas Academy Experimental Vehicle Team, Mendota Heights, MN), Keith Reese (Houston Solar Race Team, Houston, MS), Lee Cabe (Newburgh HS Solar Car Team, Newburgh, NY), and Criss Bartley (Piney Woods Raycers, Gilmer, TX).

Lee Cabe & Mark Westlake at the 2010 Specialty Workshop

Building for the 2012 Solar Car Challenge over Spring Break

Baton Rouge Magnet High School Solar Car Team, led by Team Advisor Peter Oelschlaeger, works during Spring Break on their new solar car.