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Sunseeker News
Sunseeker Returns from Formula Sun Grand Prix
Congradulations to all the teams who participated in the Formula Sun Grand Prix track race. Event finishings can be seen below.
| Team # and Name | Day 1 Laps Final |
Day 2 Laps Final |
Day 3 Laps Final |
Total Laps Final |
| (35) University of Minnesota | 206 | 192 | 171 | 569 |
| (5) Illinois State | 175 | 191 | 164 | 530 |
| (11) Northwestern University | 174 | 194 | 146 | 514 |
| (9) Iowa State | 83 | 164 | 156 | 403 |
| (3) University of Kentucky | 125 | 67 | 125 | 317 |
| (4) Western Michigan | 101 | 15 | 91 | 207 |
| (13) Michigan State | 0 | 124 | 83 | 207 |
| (42) Missouri S&T | 0 | 4 | 90 | 94 |
| (505) New Mexico | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| (2) University of Michigan * | 90 | 70 | 48 | 43 |
* Demonstration class
| All Laps Forfeited | Some Laps Forfeited |
Sunseeker Completes Pre-Event Requirements for
Formula Sun Grand Prix
The team has sucessfully completed all pre-event requirements for the Forumula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP).
More information at the American Solar Challenge Website.
Formula Sun Grand Prix 2011 Announced
The Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) is a track event that is held on grand prix or road style closed courses. This unique style of racying truly test the limits of solar cars in handling curves, braking and acceleration. Strategy applied during these three day events is different than what is applied on the cross-country event.
The 2011 FSGP will be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The tentative schedule is as follows:
| Monday, May 2 | Arrive after 6pm |
| Tuesday - Wednesday, May 3 - 4 | Scrutineering 8am - 6pm |
| Thursday - Saturday, May 5 - 7 | Racying |
Members from the 2010 Sunseeker team were present to represent the Formula Sun Grand Prix at the official announcement [Emerging Tech Day At IMS To Put Green Automotive Ideas On Track] on Friday, November 19th.
Update: We are glad to see Michigan State University plans to race! The FSGP website currently shows 13 registered teams.
General Meeting and Work Scheduling led by Dr. Engelmann
At the October 19 meeting, Dr. Engelmann will use the list of solar car tasks we generated at the October 5 meeting, and compiled by Megan Derwich, to work out a build / modify schedule of work which will result in a finished vehicle by mid March, 2011.
A copy of the task list may be found here 
. Team members should read through the list and think about a logical sequence of the tasks. The 2010 race team members especially should make notes about a work sequence since they experienced the build of the current car.
General Meeting and Presentation by Dr. Kapenga
At the October 12 meeting, Dr. Kapenga will discuss the major factors involved in a solar car's performance. These include: aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance, array power; air leakage, parasitic losses; suspension, and steering; as well as, the energy conversion losses in: batteries, motor controllers (both driving and regen), motors, braking, and cables.
With simple models for these in mind, estimates for the increased performance in Sunseeker 2011, for various modifications to Sunseeker 2010, can be made, and the value of a simulation model that can also be used for race strategy can be demonstrated.
General Meeting and Electrical Systems Presentation by Dr. Bazuin
Our next solar car meeting will be Tuesday, September 21, at 5:30 in room C123.
Dr. Bazuin from the ECE department will describe the electrical system of the solar car.
We should have some small projects to do in the plastics lab afterward.
As usual, we will have pizza and pop at the meeting. There are still some students who signed up to join that have not filled out the Sunseeker Member Form
Recent Articles:
| November 22, 2010 | Sunseeker helps Indy 500 unveil anniversary plans |
| November 19, 2010 | Emerging Tech Day At IMS To Put Green Automotive Ideas On Track |
| October 27, 2010 | FSGP 2011 Schedule |
| May 2, 2010 | Announcing FSGP 2011 |
| Older News |
