Saturday, July 23, 2005
Rayce Day 6 - Back up to speed
Day 6 starts in Pipestone, the accomodating Minnesota town. The team started from where they left off, 11 miles out of town. The car is good, and it runs and runs and runs. The team gets confident, and try to make it all the way to Fargo at a steady, fast pace in a single stint. It would also be convenient for one of the team members, as his brother is supposed to get married in Winnipeg and would like him to be present! His ride to the Winnipeg wedding is waiting in Fargo.
The car is pushed to meet the deadline, and also to fully test its newfound energy capacity. In Breckenridge, Minnesota, the car "kicks out." One of its battery cells has reached low-voltage limit and it shuts off the car.
This is a normal condition, and a charge will cure the issue. It happened much later than it would've with the previous dead cell installed. This conveniently happened at around lunch time in town, so the team took advantage and had a meal. The wedding party member was shuttled off to Fargo, and the already-small team lost a critical member. Tomorrow, the team is regrouped in Winnipeg, so there are not too many worries about team size. The Red River Raycer parks in sunlight and charges for about an hour.
Towards Fargo, the sun gets brighter, and by the time they reach the city, their battery is more highly-charged than when they had left Breckenridge.
After the checkpoint-mandatory 30-minute break, the team enters the next stage, towards Winnipeg. It was getting late already, and they had guessed that only Grand Forks would be a realistic goal.
6:00 PM, and the car stops. A long day of successful running was completed, and the car completed a whopping 290 miles! They are only 8 miles out of Grand Forks, North Dakota. There's everything to be proud of for this team on this day!
Tomorrow, weather-permitting, Winnipeg should be easy at only 180 miles from the car's current position. Unfortunately, the weather will not be very cooperative, and the team are suspecting they may need help from the trailer again to finish the stage in time. Since Winnipeg is a stage finish, and not simply a Checkpoint, the team must make it in before 6:00 PM to avoid disqualification.
They know the pace is in the car, but there's no hope if there's no sun, and with the battery problems of the previous days putting them this far back, they're in a do-or-die situation again tomorrow.
Regardless, they're coming home tomorrow. Destination; Red River College!
The car is pushed to meet the deadline, and also to fully test its newfound energy capacity. In Breckenridge, Minnesota, the car "kicks out." One of its battery cells has reached low-voltage limit and it shuts off the car.
This is a normal condition, and a charge will cure the issue. It happened much later than it would've with the previous dead cell installed. This conveniently happened at around lunch time in town, so the team took advantage and had a meal. The wedding party member was shuttled off to Fargo, and the already-small team lost a critical member. Tomorrow, the team is regrouped in Winnipeg, so there are not too many worries about team size. The Red River Raycer parks in sunlight and charges for about an hour.
Towards Fargo, the sun gets brighter, and by the time they reach the city, their battery is more highly-charged than when they had left Breckenridge.
After the checkpoint-mandatory 30-minute break, the team enters the next stage, towards Winnipeg. It was getting late already, and they had guessed that only Grand Forks would be a realistic goal.
6:00 PM, and the car stops. A long day of successful running was completed, and the car completed a whopping 290 miles! They are only 8 miles out of Grand Forks, North Dakota. There's everything to be proud of for this team on this day!
Tomorrow, weather-permitting, Winnipeg should be easy at only 180 miles from the car's current position. Unfortunately, the weather will not be very cooperative, and the team are suspecting they may need help from the trailer again to finish the stage in time. Since Winnipeg is a stage finish, and not simply a Checkpoint, the team must make it in before 6:00 PM to avoid disqualification.
They know the pace is in the car, but there's no hope if there's no sun, and with the battery problems of the previous days putting them this far back, they're in a do-or-die situation again tomorrow.
Regardless, they're coming home tomorrow. Destination; Red River College!
Comments:
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Everyone is looking forward to your arrival tomorrow (or rather today).
I put some photos of the teams who got to RRC Thursday and Friday.
The URL is www.rrc.mb.ca/library/solarcar
Minnesota, MIT, Michigan and Missouri got in Thursday p.m. MIT vanished soon afterward, according to one of the other teams. They trailered their car as soon as they arrived and reportedly set out looking for a party. Haven't been seen since.
Norman
Norman
I put some photos of the teams who got to RRC Thursday and Friday.
The URL is www.rrc.mb.ca/library/solarcar
Minnesota, MIT, Michigan and Missouri got in Thursday p.m. MIT vanished soon afterward, according to one of the other teams. They trailered their car as soon as they arrived and reportedly set out looking for a party. Haven't been seen since.
Norman
Norman
# posted by 
: 1:46 am
: 1:46 am
No one could have performed any better given the circumstances. None currently in the race have had the challenges that you have. No experience on the road. No experience in putting together a solar car. A fraction of the funding. The vehicle was assembled in a rush days before the event. And one small defective battery has hindered you all the way.
Most of your competition has been competing for years and they have years of experience.
You still have a day to arrive and your only in Grand Forks.
Winnipeg to Calgary will be a dream ride in comparison. Hope to see you very soon.
Most of your competition has been competing for years and they have years of experience.
You still have a day to arrive and your only in Grand Forks.
Winnipeg to Calgary will be a dream ride in comparison. Hope to see you very soon.
# posted by : 2:06 am
: 2:06 am
It doesn't look like the weather is cooperating with a forecast of partly sunny to mostly cloudy on your route to Winnipeg. I've had a chance to talk to some of the other teams as they've arrived at RRC and they're all impressed by your progress so far. You're perseverance and dedication to the rayce and to the College is incredible... sun or no sun, you can expect a very warm welcome in Winnipeg! Go r3!
# posted by : 8:39 am
: 8:39 am
We have some clear blue sky for the moment in Winnipeg. You will be here soon.
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# posted by : 9:52 am
: 9:52 am<< Home
