Solar Car Builders Put Bright Ideas in Motion at Texas Motor Speedway
Posted on: Tuesday, 8 July 2008, 03:00 CDT
Want to beat $4 gas? Look to the sun.
High school students from across the country tossed aside worries about miles per gallon as they developed their own solar cars to compete in the Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge this week at Texas Motor Speedway.
The competition, which began Monday, challenges students to build the most efficient vehicle they can without any help from experts -- or any gasoline. The winner is determined by the total distance traveled over four days.
Since its inception in 1995, participation in the challenge has grown from four teams to 16 teams, primarily spurred by interest in rising gas prices, said Lehman Marks, a teacher at The Winston School in Dallas who also founded the event.
"We used to not get as much participation, but the gas pump has really made a big difference," Dr. Marks said. "Five years ago, I never dreamed that a solar car could be a reality. Now, I do."
Sixteen teams, including four from Texas, designed cars that zoomed around the racetrack Monday at speeds reaching 40 mph.
The cars usually take students 12 to 15 months to complete and cost at least $8,900, much of which comes from sponsors and fundraising efforts, Dr. Marks said. Some cars can cost upward of $30,000, and if properly engineered, they can top out at 70 mph, he said.
However, unlike NASCAR races, the challenge isn't about speed.
"We teach them not to have a lead foot," Dr. Marks said. "They want to have a very light foot so they can stretch the energy."
For some students, driving a solar car seems empowering.
"It's refreshing," said David Newton, a student at The Winston School. "I don't have to worry about gas. I can go three hours without ever having to think about stopping."
GO AND DO: Competition details
What: Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge
When: 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. through Thursday
Where: Texas Motor Speedway
Admission: Free
Source: The Dallas Morning News
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