12:30 pm: After 2500 miles from Austin, Texas to Calgary, Alberta, the University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project finshed in second place by 11 minutes overall in the 2005 North American Solar Challenge. We would like to thank all our fans, friends, families and sponsors that made this finish possible. It has been a fantastic journey and we appreciated all your support throughout. Thanks for the great comments on our site.
8:00 am: After last night's penalty appeals, Michigan has regained the lead and Minnesota will be starting second today. Look for GPS updates as the rayce begins at 8 and a final update on the standings once the team reaches Calgary. Thanks for all your support, we have the best fans bar none!
What a great performance! We are rooting for you. May the sun shin brightly right on your car.
Posted by: Ashish Kumar | July 27, 2005 at 08:46 AM
"... best fans bar none." -- You got that right! It's "rally cap" time!
Not sure you'll see this suggestion in time, but I bet it would help to blow off some of steam from the roller coaster jitters created by all of the ups and downs of yesterday's timing changes. I suggest you turn those cool Japanese team headbands into some funky "rally cap." Would love to see that photo... although your priorities of course are focused on the rayce itself.
I think that's today's key... FOCUS. Forget everything prior to today--but I'm just an arm chair strategist. Do what you do best, just as you've been doing all along.
Today is THE rayce. You passed MI in cloudy/rainy conditions early on--so we know you have it in you as a team to do that again.
AND--You are the best team, bar none! Remember your back-to-back "Esprit de Corps" trophies from Formula Sun.
YOU CAN DO IT! As the guy in an old beer commercial said, "I love you, man!" -- That "luv" goes for everyone on the team!
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of us are following the rayce and we are totally with you. So cool that other teams look to the UMN SVP site for info.
You all "got it goin' on!"
Best of luck and best use of your experience and knowledge today.
Posted by: Photo Mama | July 27, 2005 at 08:53 AM
It's not over yet - Anything can happen today. Congratulations on all you've done so far; good luck on this final stage. Catch 'em in the hills!
Posted by: Tony | July 27, 2005 at 08:55 AM
Hi Kids!!! What great work and that car is beautiful. This is Mike Jensen/s MOM and I have followed this race just like when Mike was on Route 66 to Cal. I bugged him each day to get more stuff on the site so I could keep up. You are doing a great job with communications. Get out there today and bring it on home!!! You can do it for sure. Good luck to all of you.
Posted by: Karen Jensen | July 27, 2005 at 08:57 AM
Does anyone else get the feeling that Speed Limits weren't meant for raycing? I feel that these cars have surpassed road raycing (at least the open class). If road raycing is the way that NASC wants to be then they should enable the vehicles to be on the interstates which would allow for higher speeds and not all of the top teams would be able to travel at the same speed for 90% of the race which is why this one is so close and it will be even worse in 2 years. I wouldn't mind seeing a track race at Daytona or Indianapolis or something of the sort. Let them get out there and race.
Obviously I am not saying that we would have beat MI if this were the case as it was apparent last week that there may be a difference in Aero in the 2 teams. But it would have spread the field (maybe) and there would be a clear victor with no penalties involved either way. If I were a MI fan I would have not been very happy about the penalties that were incurred as their car was able to go faster than they were being allowed to in a race? OK I am done.
Go Gophers! Take 'em at a stop light and accelerate as fast as possible whenever you can.
Posted by: Aaron | July 27, 2005 at 09:22 AM
I totally agree- I would propose a regulation that let teams that could qualify with a higher milage, say 225 miles and pass some high speed dynamics tests race on interstates whenever possible. Of course, they would be held to a minimum 55mph while on the intersate...
The most difficult thing about this rule would likely be making the officiating fair (severely penalizes teams on the slower route) and getting approval from the various states you'd drive through.
This problem will likely come up in Australia, as this is the first time they have had a 110kph speed limit for the whole route. Of course, they don't hold as fast to those speeding rules down under as we do here.
Posted by: Chris Churchill | July 27, 2005 at 09:59 AM
How does 40 minutes go to 4 minutes in penalties?
Does this mean the UofMN's 5 minute penalty should be dropped to 1 minute if they argued the case?
There doesn't seem to be a very good system of speed penalizing in this race and again is open to way too much interpretation in my opinion. Maybe MI had a lawyer on their team, jk.
They have a much better car this year than their 2003 entrant which didn't qualify for ASC, so hats off to them for running a good race and making a good car...but this thing isn't over just yet.
Go get'em!
Posted by: Jason Halpern | July 27, 2005 at 10:03 AM
Goooooooooo Gophers! Visualize. You are going to win this rayce! You CAN do it!
Posted by: A Geography Fan | July 27, 2005 at 10:06 AM
I tried to post this earlier, but my computer was acting up. I noticed a couple of you wondering why some of our penalties were cancelled while yours still remains. The reason is that we felt that the penalties that we had were questionable and submitted them for repeal. Your team could do the same if they felt strongly about it. However, the risk involved is that if you lose the repeal process your penalties are doubled. When we submitted for repeal we ran the risk of doubling our 45 minutes worth of penalties to 90 minutes. I didn't know about this until last night, so I thought you guys might be interested.
Posted by: Don from Michigan | July 27, 2005 at 10:20 AM
With the latest GPS coords, and close proximity in time:
University of Minnesota Borealis III 35 Wed Jul 27 09:29:24 MDT 2005 50.715 -112.26
University of Michigan Momentum 2 Wed Jul 27 09:29:17 MDT 2005 50.655 -112.081
This places BIII 18km infront of Michigan.
Posted by: Josh Sinykin | July 27, 2005 at 10:37 AM
Also thank you to Jason for the compliment. The 2003 experience was heartbreaking for our team and started the 2005 team off on a not so great foot. However, we were able to bounce back from that and use it as motivation for Momentum.
As equally commendable is the Minnesota team for producing such quality cars for so many races in a row. Congradulations on that.
Posted by: Don from Michigan | July 27, 2005 at 10:42 AM
While racing is fun, and everyone likes to be in fist place I am quite relieved that Michigan's penalty was reduced. Being a Borealis III team leader and a member of the Formula Sun Rayce Team, I can say from experience that Michigan's vehicle is impressive. No one wants the accomplishments of such great teams to be eclipsed by penalties.
I only hope that everyone appreciates the vehicle we have created. The fact that we are able to compete with such stiff competition bepeaks that character, ingenuity, and execution of this team. At risk of sounding apologetic - win or lose this team has put together the U of M's best vehicle yet. That is what we set out to do two years ago, and I am extremely proud of the team members who have raced this vehicle so strongly.
Posted by: Aaron Westman | July 27, 2005 at 10:48 AM
Was that a pass, I think we passed Mich...
Isn't this just awesome!!
Posted by: Dan Evanson | July 27, 2005 at 11:03 AM
University of Minnesota Borealis III 35 Wed Jul 27 09:59:25 MDT 2005 50.864 -112.875
University of Michigan Momentum 2 Wed Jul 27 09:59:14 MDT 2005 50.834 -112.692
looks like more than slightly...
GODSPEED MN, GO!
Posted by: Cardiac | July 27, 2005 at 11:08 AM
Now it looks like Michigan in in front...GPS is questionable.
I can't watch.
Posted by: Brad | July 27, 2005 at 11:24 AM
but you can't look away either. I hope it is a GPS hicup, MN's last to positions were the same. I hope it's not a flat tire or something that would take away all chance.
Posted by: Matt Haupert | July 27, 2005 at 11:27 AM
Now, stars right on top of each other and MN 1.5 minutes earlier update time...that'd be 2.5 minutes gained out of ~12.
Posted by: Brad | July 27, 2005 at 11:38 AM
You all make us proud! You are great role models!
Diane
Posted by: Diane Herrmann | July 27, 2005 at 11:50 AM
According to the GPS we are now trailing Michigan, we must have had a flat or something.
Posted by: Josh Sinykin | July 27, 2005 at 11:51 AM
Looks like they are almost to the end and physicaly close to each other...too close...within a few minutes.
Posted by: Brad | July 27, 2005 at 12:11 PM
by the last GPS update the coordinates are the same but MN was ahead by about 1 and a half minutes. let's hope we come in ahead!
Go Gophers!
Posted by: Matt Haupert | July 27, 2005 at 12:25 PM
Well this is nervewracking. :)
And yet not -- MN has run a fabulous race, the crew doing an excellent job with a top of the line car. World class all around. 'Nuff said.
Posted by: Laurie | July 27, 2005 at 12:32 PM
According to Michigan's blog, they just pulled into the finish 45 secs ahead of BIII.
Congrats to the team, you guys and gals have a lot to be proud of.
Posted by: Nick | July 27, 2005 at 12:32 PM
Nick, I saw the same entry and I sescond your thoughts. This is by far the best car ever produced by the U of M and you should all be very proud of your accomplishments.
Posted by: Matt Haupert | July 27, 2005 at 12:34 PM
Way to go Team!!!!
What a rayce! You've all earned some R&R. Congrats on a superb car.
Posted by: Shanna | July 27, 2005 at 12:44 PM