Solar Cars Hit the Road to Test Route 66 Course



In preparation for next year's American Solar Challenge (ASC), three solar car teams will test the planned course along historic Route 66 July 15-26. At 2,300 miles, the 2001 ASC is the world's longest solar car race. It will feature as many as 60 solar-powered cars built by university teams, companies, clubs and
individuals.

WHO'S DRIVING: Teams making the drive are: Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, Ill.), Rose-Hulman Institute (Terre Haute, Ind.) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Mass.) LLCC will test only the first leg, traveling from Chicago to Springfield.

WHERE ARE THE STOPS ALONG THE WAY: The media stops/checkpoints are planned for Chicago, Ill.; Springfield, Ill.; Rolla, Mo.; Neosho, Mo.; Claremore, Okla.; Edmond, Okla.; Sayre, Okla.; Amarillo, Texas; Tucumcari, N.M.; Gallup, N.M.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; Kingman, Ariz.; Barstow, Calif.; and Palm Springs, Calif. (Locations at each stop are below)

Checkpoints are every 150-200 miles. Teams will likely spend approximately 30 minutes at each stop, providing time for interviews and photographs.

WHY: ASC encourages innovation and interest in science and engineering, creates enthusiasm for educational excellence and the technologies that emerge from that excellence, and demonstrates the power of solar energy and energy efficiency.

CALL US ON THE ROAD: Where we'll be each day during the test run depends on the weather and other factors influencing how far the solar cars travel in a day. ASC public relations staff John Horst, George Douglas and Chris Powers will be in constant contact with the cars. All can be reached by cell phone: Horst, 303-882-0776; Douglas, (before July 20) 720-353-7540; Powers (after July 20) 882-0775.

ABOUT THE TEAMS:
Rose-Hulman Institute
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Solar Phantom team has competed in eight national races during the past 10 years, including all five Sunrayces. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of its first solar race, GM Sunrayce USA, from Orlando to Warren, Mich.

During the 90's, Rose-Hulman students constructed four different cars for these competitions -- and construction is currently underway on the Solar Phantom VI for the ASC in 2001. In May 2000, the Solar Phantom V (the car making the test run) won the Formula Sun Grand Prix in Topeka, Kan. It placed third in Sunrayce 99.

MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology team is a student-run organization that has competed in nearly 20 solar car races. In 1999, MIT ventured to Australia to compete in the World Solar Challenge. It earned first place in the lead acid (cut-out) class, eighth overall. MIT has also found success in Sunrayce events. The school took first in Sunrayce 95 and second in '97.

Founded in 1985, MIT became the nation's first university to enter the Swiss Tour de Sol in 1986. The team has also set a record with its Solectria 5 -- traveling across the U.S.
Lincoln Land Community College
The team from Springfield, Ill., has been racing solar cars for almost five years now. In May, LLCC took fifth in the stock car class during the Formula Sun Grand Prix in Topeka, Kan.
The team's car -- Prominence II -- uses a hydrogen-powered fuel cell to run its electric motor. The car's combination of solar cells and hydrogen power is unique, team members say.


MEDIA STOPS/CHECKPOINTS FOR TEST RUN
Start: Chicago -- Museum of Science and Industry
Checkpoint: Springfield, Ill. -- Lincoln Land Community College
Checkpoint: Rolla, Mo. -- University of Missouri Rolla
Checkpoint: Neosho, Mo. -- Near Walmart Shopping Center
Checkpoint: Claremore, Okla. -- Walmart lot
Checkpoint: Edmond, Okla. -- University of Central Oklahoma
Checkpoint: Sayre, Okla. -- Sayer Campus
Checkpoint: Amarillo, Texas -- Big-K lot
Checkpoint: Tucumcari, N.M. -- TBD
Checkpoint: Albuquerque, N.M. -- Walmart lot
Checkpoint: Gallup Cultural Center
Checkpoint: Flagstaff, Ariz. -- TBD
Checkpoint: Kingman, Ariz. -- Junior/Senior High School
Checkpoint: Barstow, Calif. -- Barstow College
Finish: Palm Springs, Calif. -- Palm Springs High School

Support for the ASC is provided by the Department of Energy and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1600 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colo. 80401 Fax: 303-275-4788

ASC is one of the Formula Sun Group of Events
PO Box 30
Freeman, MO 64763
Phone 800-606-8881
Fax 816-250-2558
Email: hq[at]formulasun.org
Web: formulasun.org

For more information contact:
John Horst, 303-882-0776, john_horst[at]nrel.gov
George Douglas (before July 20) 303-882-0775
Chris Powers (after July 20) 303-882-0775
NREL Public Affairs, 303-275-4090