UMR, Rolla community to welcome solar racers home

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On July 28, 2005

The general public is invited to welcome the University of Missouri-Rolla Solar Car Team home during a celebration planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, outside of the Havener Center on campus.

Fresh off completing the 2,500-mile North American Solar Challenge, the team is currently making the long trip home from Calgary, Alberta.

Well, not exactly fresh. Team members are exhausted, and they’re looking forward to getting off the road.

“On the way back, all of our hotel rooms have pools and hot tubs,” says UMR team president Stephanie Maiden, who points out that they spent most nights camped beside the road during the 10-day race. “We just want to relax.”

On the way back from Calgary, the team is retracing a lot of the same roads they traveled during the race, which ended July 27 with UMR in fourth place. Team members are riding in vans; Solar Miner V is being hauled in a trailer.

Upon the team’s arrival in Rolla, Solar Miner V will travel from Martin Springs Drive down Kingshighway to Pine Street, then turn west onto 10th Street. Following a left onto State Street, the route will end outside the Havener Center.

The Rolla Police Department will escort the car through Rolla. Spectators and fans are encouraged to line the streets and cheer the team. The car will stop in the street just east of the Havener Center to give supporters from the community an opportunity to visit with team members and view the car.

Lunch at the homecoming celebration will be sponsored by Rolla area businesses and UMR faculty and staff.

UMR faculty and staff who want to bring a side dish or dessert may drop off food by 10:30 a.m. on the day of the event at the tent to be set up outside of the Havener Center. Those interested should notify Lila Kolker at 341-4602 or kolkerl@mst.edu.

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On July 28, 2005. Posted in Events