Looking back on the week of June 1st through the 5th, the events that took place at Cresson, Texas were the culmination of many great things that represent our solar car team. I strongly believe that the members of the University of Kentucky Solar Car Team are some of the most resourceful and innovative students I have met. In the last few months leading up to the race, I was tasked with leading our car from last year's race, Gato del Sol III, into working condition and assembling the team that will ultimately participate in the event. I could not have done it without the great support of the Team Manager, Nick Such, and the large group of team members who helped bring the car to racing status.

At first, getting ready for the race seemed like a lot of paperwork but the realization that the car needed a significant amount of maintenance with very little available funds proved daunting. Memories of last year passed through my head and the challenge of very little manpower to get the car ready for the North American Solar Challenge. I was overwhelmed to say the least. Fortunately, our team has grown not only in size but also in capability since last year and I am proud of all the members who got the car working in time for the trip to Texas.

After we arrived at the Texas Motorsport Ranch, our car passed scrutineering and qualifying but came to a substantial roadblock when our motor controller (the magic black box that allows our car to run) quit. We are very lucky and grateful to have friends in Northwestern University and the University of Minnesota, as the former allowed us to borrow their spare controller and both gave us the aid in getting it to work. Thank you all! (More...)

On day one of the three day race, we encountered the only overcast day we would see that week. We maintained a steady course, utilizing what little sun we received, kept it slow and steady, and ultimately got 109 laps that day which put us in 4th place. By day two, our reliability truly showed how much robustness can be an advantage, and our ability to not break down and stay on the track pushed us into 2nd place overall. On the third day, all we needed to do was maintain our lead to ensure 2nd place. Gato del Sol III was able to do 138 laps on day two and an impressive 146 laps on day three. In all, our car covered 668.1 miles in three days.

Once again, our strongest advantage was a reliable car. We were definitely not the fastest, but in 30 hours of racing, we were in the pit for just under 35 minutes! Every other team on the track had at least one pit stop that lasted the length of our total pit time (simply my observation, could be wrong), on top of other necessary stops as well. Also, based on general observation, but I may be wrong again, we were the only team that did not use Bridestone Ecopia solar car tires. We used much cheaper and less efficient Cheng Shin moped tires. While not as efficient as solar car racing slicks, they lasted the whole day without replacement, keeping our car off pit row. (That is, with the exception of user error when we accidentally placed a 16" inner tube in the 14" tire, then you get a flat like we did 1.5 hours before the race ended.)

Because of all the preparation and maintenance that went into Gato del Sol III, this race was the most laid back, low stress, and successful race in University of Kentucky Solar Car Team history. I am astounded at how this week was more like a vacation than a rigorous competition. The team members that went down to Texas all had fun, had a chance to relax, bask in the Texas sun, and enjoy the fruit of all the efforts that went into making this car so successful. I hope we keep this up, and I greatly look forward to what Kentucky has to offer to the solar car racing community in Gato del Sol IV and its future members.

Solar Car goes Woot Woot!

Mark Taylor