Here we go!
Continuum completed dynamic scrutineering successfully this morning at 9:00am at the Hidden Valley Raceway. Our qualifying lap was 2 minutes 30 seconds, securing us the 11th position in tomorrow morning's starting lineup. A total of 38 solar cars will leave Darwin for Adelaide in the 20th anniversary of this amazing race.
Continuum has been packed into the semi for transportation to the start line in a few hours. All the seams are taped, all the bolts are checked, the batteries are charged, and the tires are filled. Continuum will be unpacked at 5:00am tomorrow morning just outside of Parliament where the race will begin. Early hours will be filled with additional system checks, additional pre-race scrutineering, and a public display immediately before drivers enter their cars at 7:45. As the 11th vehicle beginning the 2007 World Solar Challenge, Continuum will cross the start line at 8:10am tomorrow morning (6:40pm on Saturday evening in Ann Arbor.)
We're all very pleased with how far Continuum has come since it was completed earlier this summer. The vehicle has logged 2,390 miles of pre-race testing in 2.5 months, 1,710 of which were on Australian soil with an active concentrator system. Recent testing has shown that we're finally reaching the levels of performance that we've been hoping for. As Continuum rolls out of Darwin in approximately 8 hours, we can be proud knowing that we've completed a suitable addition to the long lineage of Michigan Solar Cars.
Blog posts during the race will be delivered with the help of Tom Carroll, our Interim Project Manager based in Ann Arbor. Tom has been working behind the scenes with a strong group of Team members back on campus to help support our efforts here in Oz. If you'd like to contact anyone on the Race Crew over the next 5-6 days, please send emails to solarcar@umich.edu where Tom will receive the messages and forward them to the Wolverines crossing the Outback. For up to date information on race progress, you can follow the pack through the WSC website at www.wsc.org.au.
Thanks to everyone for your kind messages and words of encouragement. We look forward to making you proud this week.
Go Fast, Go Smooth, GO BLUE!!!
Brian
Continuum has been packed into the semi for transportation to the start line in a few hours. All the seams are taped, all the bolts are checked, the batteries are charged, and the tires are filled. Continuum will be unpacked at 5:00am tomorrow morning just outside of Parliament where the race will begin. Early hours will be filled with additional system checks, additional pre-race scrutineering, and a public display immediately before drivers enter their cars at 7:45. As the 11th vehicle beginning the 2007 World Solar Challenge, Continuum will cross the start line at 8:10am tomorrow morning (6:40pm on Saturday evening in Ann Arbor.)
We're all very pleased with how far Continuum has come since it was completed earlier this summer. The vehicle has logged 2,390 miles of pre-race testing in 2.5 months, 1,710 of which were on Australian soil with an active concentrator system. Recent testing has shown that we're finally reaching the levels of performance that we've been hoping for. As Continuum rolls out of Darwin in approximately 8 hours, we can be proud knowing that we've completed a suitable addition to the long lineage of Michigan Solar Cars.
Blog posts during the race will be delivered with the help of Tom Carroll, our Interim Project Manager based in Ann Arbor. Tom has been working behind the scenes with a strong group of Team members back on campus to help support our efforts here in Oz. If you'd like to contact anyone on the Race Crew over the next 5-6 days, please send emails to solarcar@umich.edu where Tom will receive the messages and forward them to the Wolverines crossing the Outback. For up to date information on race progress, you can follow the pack through the WSC website at www.wsc.org.au.
Thanks to everyone for your kind messages and words of encouragement. We look forward to making you proud this week.
Go Fast, Go Smooth, GO BLUE!!!
Brian
Labels: WSC 2007 Season
Posted by Brian Ignaut at 9:12 AM | Permalink |
8 comments
8 Comments:
how excited all of you must be!
i know none of you are getting any sleep right now.
wishing BLUE skies and tailwinds...
GOOD LUCK!!!
anita
(deanna's mom)
Watch out for those willy-willies and remember, windshield wipers on the left! Go blue!
Go Team!!!
Mike and Donna
(Gerald's parents)
As you roll across the start line in just a few short hours, you all should be extremely proud.
This team has introduced game changing technology and strategy, helped secure the life of solar racing as a sport in NA and has most definitely represented the University and United States with excellence. You are a world class team.
In just a few days, a very important chapter in your Solar Car life will be coming to a close. All of your hard work over these past two years will be shown in a matter of hours, enjoy it; its a thrill that will likely not be matched.
It goes without saying that all the alumni are extremely proud. The trophy is yours to bring home.
GO BLUE
Michael Brackney
2005 Momentum
Good Luck Everyone! The U of M Solar Car community will be glued to their computers for the next few days watching for updates! Go Blue!
Hmm... 11th. Lots of passing between Darwin and Dunmara (hopefully before Katherine). Can't wait to hear how it goes.
Go Blue!
So the team scored an impressive U of M Solar Car Trifecta so far:
1) Pass scrutineering
2) Qualify
3) Have a protest filed against them by another team (see link below) :)
http://blog.nuonsolarteam.nl/
OMG. What's this about a crash? From the WSC website:
http://worldsolarchallenge.blogspot.com/
Update: Michigan out of the Challenge
Reports from the Challenge indicate that the University of Michigan have crashed their Solar Vehicle into their support vehicle. Severe damage to their vehicle has been reported.
This report has not yet been confirmed.
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