Solar Rollers Trophy Race on May 30
Noah Davis
12 Colorado High School teams will compete with their custom designed, hand-built solar-powered remote control cars at Bighorn Toyota in Glenwood Springs, CO on May 30. This is a rescheduled event after a rainout on May 16,
The event is free and open to spectators from 10am - 3pm.
The 60-minute main circuit race starts at solar noon: 1:05 pm.
Teams compete in five separate disciplines:
20 Questions - An academic quiz in front of a panel of energy and engineering experts. Questions are selected randomly from 20 tough predistributed questions.
All Out Top Speed - Fastest run as measured by radar with a race-spec lithium ion battery on board.
PV Direct Top Speed - Fastest run as measured by radar with no battery - sunlight only.
PV Direct Circuit Race - A 3-lap race using only the power of the sun, no battery.
Main Circuit Race (1:05 pm) - After a 30-minute solar precharging period, cars race for 60 minutes on the winding course. Most teams will need to make hurried repairs in the pits over the course of this race.
AWARDS - Paul Spencer, President and Founder of Clean Energy Collective and innovator of the community solar model.
20 QUESTIONS PANEL JUDGES -
Jon Fox-Rubin of Energetics Education and The Manaus Fund
Shelley Kaup of Clean Energy Economy for the Region
Kelly Carlin of Rocky Mountain Institute