AMERICAN SOLAR CHALLENGE 2003 TO MAKE UNM “PIT” STOP IN ALBUQUERQUE

July 9 , 2003

AMERICAN SOLAR CHALLENGE 2003 TO MAKE UNM “PIT” STOP IN ALBUQUERQUE

The American Solar Challenge (ASC) 2003, a solar-powered car race featuring entrants universities across the United States and Canada, will make a stop at the University of New Mexico as part of its 12-stop event along Historic Route 66. The race begins in Chicago, Ill. July 13 and concludes in Claremont, Calif. July 23.

Approximately 30 cars will take part in Start Stage #3 at University Arena, “The Pit,” located at the UNM’s south campus on Sunday, July 20 at 9 a.m. A start stage means all 30 cars will restart at one minute intervals according to their race order at the stopover. Albuquerque is one of four such stops along the race route. The solar cars are expected to begin arriving in Albuquerque Thursday afternoon, July 17.

Sandia National Labs and UNM are co-sponsors of the Albuquerque stopover. Race sponsors include the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, BP Solar and EDS.

The ASC is a competition to design, build and race cars in a cross country event. The race is designed to promote a greater understanding of solar energy technology, its environmental benefits and its promise for the future; educational excellence in science, engineering and mathematics — and the creative integration of technical and scientific expertise across a range of disciplines; and, a “hands-on” opportunity for students and engineers to develop and demonstrate their technical and creative abilities.

Colleges, universities, visitor centers, museums, cities and chambers of commerce are hosting the checkpoints and stage stops where the official timing and scoring of the ASC teams’ performances will be recorded.

The RNE2EW education trailer, a traveling exhibit featuring displays and literature about solar, wind and other renewable energy technologies, will be on display at the stage stop locations in Chicago, Rolla and Albuquerque. RNE2EW is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and BP.

ASC welcomes fan support anywhere along the race route and provide official ASC programs and pennants at the stops. Young people along the race route are encouraged to participate in the Solar Scout program. Solar Scouts earn a badge for learning about solar energy and making signs to cheer the teams as they travel through their towns and cities.

ASC cars are required to make mandatory half-hour stops at checkpoints along the race route. At stage stops, such as Albuquerque the teams are required to spend the night, then re-start in one-minute intervals with the leader first, next place car second and so on in order of ranking. Because the pace of the cars depends on weather and performance, the exact time ASC will reach each town cannot be predicted. However, based on past experience, race officials have issued the following schedule.

July 12 and 13 (Chicago, Ill.)
Museum of Science & Industry of Chicago

Race Preview Saturday, July 12, 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
The Museum of Science and Industry hosts ASC racers for two days of free events.

Race Start Sunday, July 13, 9:00 a.m.
Sunday July 13 is the official start of the American Solar Challenge. Start line ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the museum’s front lawn. The ASC racecars will receive the official green flag at 9 a.m. and depart in one-minute intervals.

July 13 (Springfield, Ill.)
Lincoln Land Community College (Checkpoint 1, Race Distance 207 Miles)

July 14 and 15 (Rolla, Mo.)
University of Missouri-Rolla (Stage Stop, Race Distance 437 Miles)

Start ASC Stage 2
The cars will line up for Stage 2 on Tuesday, July 15, at 8:30 a.m, leaving in one-minute intervals starting
at 9 a.m., in order of ranking.

July 15 (Joplin, Mo.)
Ewert Park (Checkpoint 2, Race Distance 631 Miles)

July 16 (Edmond, Okla.)
University of Central Oklahoma (Checkpoint 3, Race Distance 881 Miles)

July 16 and 17 (Sayre, Okla.)
Southwest Oklahoma State University (Checkpoint 4, Race Distance 1,031 Miles)

July 16, 17 and 18 (Amarillo, Texas)
Don Harrington Discovery Center (Checkpoint 5, Race Distance 1,188 Miles)

July 17 and 18 (Tucumcari, N.M.)
Mesa Lands Community College (Checkpoint 6, Race Distance 1,298 Miles)
Mesa Lands Community College will provide spectator bleachers for viewing of the race cars as they travel into the Tucumcari checkpoint on Thursday, July 17, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, July 18, from 8 a.m. until mid-afternoon.

July 17, 18, 19 and 20 (Albuquerque)
University of New Mexico, South Campus (Stage Stop, Race Distance 1,474 Miles)
“The Pit”, University Blvd.

Depending on the weather and the performance of the cars, the first teams may roll into “The Pit” at the UNM south campus late afternoon on Thursday, July 17. The checkpoint will be open Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19. Sandia National Laboratories (SNLA) and UNM are sponsoring the Albuquerque stage stop and will host a hospitality tent and provide support for ASC officials.

The public is encouraged to visit “The Pit” to view the ASC cars and talk with the team members as they make a stage stop in Albuquerque and to experience the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technology Showcase. SNLA in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, both U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories, will host the showcase on Friday, Saturday and on Sunday morning. Experts from the laboratories will be available to provide information about the technology displays and renewable energy and energy efficiency applications.

Start ASC Stage 3
ASC fans won’t want to miss the Albuquerque stage start, Sunday, July 20, at 9 a.m., when the third leg of the race will begin. ASC teams will line up at 8:30 a.m. in order of ranking. ASC teams will depart starting at 9 in one-minute intervals exiting “The Pit” via Avenida De Cesar Chavez and continuing their journey along Route 66 to California.

July 20 and 21 (Gallup, N.M.)
Gallup Chamber of Commerce (Checkpoint 7, Race Distance 1,616 Miles)
The Gallup Chamber of Commerce will welcome ASC cars as they roll into town Sunday, July 20. The first cars are expected to arrive late morning. The checkpoint will reopen Monday, July 21, at 8 a.m.

July 20 and 21 (Flagstaff, Ariz.)
Flagstaff City Hall (Checkpoint 8, Race Distance 1,806)

July 21 and 22 (Kingman, Ariz.)
Powerhouse Visitor Center (Checkpoint 9, Race Distance 1,971 Miles)

July 21, 22 and 23 Bartsow, Calif.)
Barstow Community College (Stage Stop, Race Distance 2,196 Miles)

Start ASC Stage 4
Stage 4, the final leg of the race, will be held Wednesday, July 23. At 8:30 a.m. The cars will begin lining up for a 9 a.m. departure in one-minute intervals to finish ASC in Claremont, Calif. ASC teams will depart in order of ranking.

July 23
Claremont, Calif. (ASC Official Finish Line, Race Distance 2,306 Miles)

On Wednesday, July 23, the American Solar Challenge will finish the 2300-mile race in downtown Claremont. The winning team is expected to get the checkered flag at approximately 11:30 a.m. at the finish line on Yale Avenue. The City of Claremont is hosting the finish and the the public is encouraged to come see the cars on display and talk with team members about their cross-country trek.

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