UMR — home of the 2003 American Solar Challenge winners — will host the solar car race’s 2005 Kickoff Conference on its campus March 26-28.
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The UMR Solar Car Team won the 2003 American Solar Challenge (ASC), a 2,300-mile solar car race from Chicago to Los Angeles last July. The UMR team’s solar-powered vehicle, Solar Miner IV, was one of 20 solar cars to compete in the ASC. All vehicles in the event were designed and built by colleges and students from throughout the United States and Canada. This conference gives ASC participants an opportunity to learn about all aspects of solar car building, including the batteries, aerodynamics, mechanical design, strategy, team structure, regulations, and logistics. Solar car alumni and industry or academic experts will conduct the sessions.
Conference sponsors include UMR and the Formula Sun Education Foundation. For more information go to www.americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2005/kickoff/index.html .
The next ASC takes place in July 2005 on an entirely new route spanning from Houston to the finish line in Calgary, Canada.