Solar cars race for the future results of the GM Sunrayce USA and the world solar challenge

Abstract

In July 1990, 32 North American university teams gathered in Orlando, FL to compete in GM Sunrayce USA, a 1650 mile transcontinental race of solar powered cars. Using only sunlight for power, the cars had to travel through eight states over eleven days before reaching the finish line in Detroit, MI. Created as a student competition to strengthen hands-on science and engineering skills, Sunrayce was a triumph of higher learning. Students were motivated to learn skills and excel at challenges they never thought possible. Their hard work, creativity and innovation surpassed everyone's expectations. What started out as a race of students ended as a race of scientists and engineers better prepared for their nature.

The prize for the three winners of Sunrayce was an all expenses paid trip to compete in the 1990 World Solar Challenge (WSC) in Australia. The WSC is a 1870 mile solar car race across the Australian outback. This year's event had 36 competitors from around the world, including eleven entries from Japan, eight from the U.S.A., and five from Europe. In total, 62 different solar racing teams competed in the two events in 1990.

Both events are described in detail in this paper. Vehicle specifications, race results and day-by-day descriptions of how the race developed are provided. Technical details of the three winning teams in GM Sunrayce USA are given in individual design reports written by the teams and following this paper. Pictures and summaries of each Sunrayce vehicle are given in Appendix A, which follows the design reports.