General Information

1. A Race Map is now available which will be helpful for family and friends. It can be found at http://www.winstonsolar.org/challenge/route2010.shtml.
2. All Solar Vehicle Divisions will get trophies.
3. Everyone must wear a hat and have their race identification badge visible. Badges are assigned during Team Check-in on Friday, July 16th.
4. If you intend to receive a Texas Experimental Vehicle License, you must e-mail me your liability insurance certificate prior to June 15th.
5. Drivers must have valid State Driver's License, and must be "qualified" during Team Check-in and Scrutineering.

Race Day Procedures

1. The Race is based on community support for this project. This implies that we have to do everything possible to return this support to the people we meet. This requires teams to:
   1. Take part in all "meet-the-community" experiences
   2. Honor the community by driving the two miles leading up to a Lunch Stop, Rest Stop, or Media Stop. If there is question regarding capability to drive into a Lunch Stop, the Race Judge traveling with the team will make the decision.
2. The winners of the race will be the race teams that accrue the largest number of miles over the seven days of racing. Teams are considered "racing" and "on-the-clock" from Race Start to Race Finish each day, except for the required 30-minute Lunch Stop, and the 15-minute Rest Stop or Media Stop. The elapsed race time only plays a part in the race if two teams have accrued the same number of miles by the end of the race.

Pre-Race Recommendations

1. Teams need to be proficient in skills that will help them safely handle events along the race. To this end, we will require a higher level of preparation in the following two areas in order to pass Scrutineering:
   1. Teams must be able to demonstrate their ability to get their car on and off their trailer safely and quickly.
   2. Teams must be able to demonstrate that their Safety Officer has excellent "flagging" skills to insure the safety of his team along the road. Safety Officers must arrive at the race with those skills already learned!
2. Teams should secure topographical software to determine the driving demands for each day's race course. You can then anticipate road conditions that may require you to trailer, or adjust your driving speed.
3. Although there is greater security using enclosed trailers, some teams have found value in open-topped trailers that allow the solar car to charge its batteries while being trailered.

Working with your Judges

1. Please designate one of your team members to be a liasion with your race judge. Your success depends on your developing a good working relationship with your judge. This can always be better fulfilled with good communication. This builds mutual respect.
2. Remember, you make the decisions about your racing, but it never hurts to ask for the judge's advice if you are uncertain about a "situation." Judges are there to help keep you safe . . . . . not to tell you that you are off course!
3. What you have to provide for your judges:
   1. You must provide a front seat position in the vehicle following the solar car. This gives the judge a good view of the solar car to help keep you safe.
   2. You must "pick-up" your judge from the hotel prior to traveling to the Impound each morning. The judge will stay with you until you reach the Impound site in the evening.
   3. You must provide your judge whatever food, water, or resources that you would provide to a regular member of your team during that racing day. This requires nothing special. If you are eating peanut butter & jelly for lunch, that's fine!

Race Overview
Please remember that this Race will be an experience of a life time. Enjoy yourself, but be safe. Remember that you have to be super vigilant about race observers:

1. People will want to pass your convoy, slow down, hang out their window, and get a photograph or video. Be patient with these people and help them be aware of on-coming traffic.
2. Wherever you stop, people will want to talk with you about your solar car. Designate one of your team members to be your spokesperson so that the rest of your team can more easily do vehicle maintenance.

Copyright (c) 2012 Lehman Marks. All Rights Reserved. Solar Car Challenge, 3505 Cassidy Drive, Plano, TX 75023 Questions about the challenge? Contact Dr. Lehman Marks, Event Coordinator