Principia Places Second and Fifth in Solar Car Races
Principia finished second in the Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) in Wampum, Pennsylvania, the track event used to qualify cars for the 2016 American Solar Challenge (ASC) cross-country race. This was the first time Principia has qualified for the ASC on the opening day of the three-day Grand Prix. Senior Jackson Walker and junior Nicole Gerber, shared the driving for a total of 726 miles in the FSGP.
Following the Grand Prix, teams headed into the eight-day 1,975-mile ASC road race, traveling through seven states from Brecksville, Ohio, to Hot Springs, South Dakota. Principia placed fifth, one of only five teams still operating exclusively on solar power on the final day of the race. By the end of that day, however, Ra 9 could go no farther and had to be trailered to the finish.
This year’s challenging route, designed to celebrate the 2016 Centennial of the National Park Service, included high-density areas, extensive elevation changes spanning approximately 4,400 feet, and days with heavy cloud cover and rain. “Our team did an excellent job and stretched the battery pack as far as it would go,” says Jackson. “We had to trailer the last 89.9 miles, but we made it over 1,886.3 miles just on solar power.”
Though disappointed, the team recognized their accomplishment when only one team—University of Michigan—was able to finish exclusively on solar power. Principia finished ahead of the University of California-Berkeley, University of Minnesota, and École de technologie supérieure (part of the Université du Québec system), among others.
New Team Members Radiate Enthusiasm
This year’s team saw an influx of new students interested in the solar car program. Among them, sophomore Andrew Huddleston was enthusiastic about his first race. “Spending every moment working with the team, eating meals together, and being in the lead vehicle for nine hours a day created a magnificent bonding experience,” Andrew says. “And it was wonderfully surprising to find how close I got with people on teams we were competing against. The race was an experience we all shared, despite being competitors. We talked during stage stops and helped teams in need.”
“Our team is gearing up to build Ra X [pronounced “RA Ten”] this year,” adds sophomore Austin Webster, a mechanical engineering student new to the team this year. “We’re working on designs that we continue to tweak with the goal of a more competitive car on the international scene as we look ahead to the World Solar Challenge in Australia in October 2017.”
Principia Alumni and Friends at Grant’s Farm
At several checkpoints along the route, Principia alumni and friends provided the team with lodging, pizza dinners, and homemade breakfasts and treats. The largest contingent awaited the team at Grant’s Farm in St. Louis, adjacent to the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, where Principia’s Alumni & Field Relations Office hosted a hospitality tent for over 70 Principia friends. Many in the group, including College President Dr. Jonathan Palmer and his wife, Sue, took turns holding the array (the car’s upper section) during the 45-minute checkpoint while team members adjusted the motor controller, tire pressure, and changed drivers. “Seeing family and friends at Grant’s Farm really lifted our spirits, and we were all so thankful,” Andrew says.
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