Team Volt-Tech was in the parking lot unloading the car as the early morning rays were rising above the horizon. Mr. Smith, Jackie and Elijah took one of the vans and carefully drove the first 15 miles of the 140 mile route. Due to issues with our gear ratio, it was important to know what stretches of road would be the most advantageous to run the car on and on which areas it should be trailered. Tasks on the car, which are quickly becoming a morning routine were done: voltage readings, cleaning of solar array, and a general examination. We met our judge for the day, Christian.
Judge Christian going over safety procedures for taking car off and on the road. One thing he stressed is that he wanted the flagger to be engaged with straight arms and forceful directing of traffic.
Here is a reading of the four twelve volt batteries being charged through the solar array on the trailer roof. (57.7 volts)
Jackie and Elijah meet with the team to discuss the strategy for reaching optimum miles on the first ten miles of the race:
Here is a bird's eye view of our 8:00am morning meeting with Dr. Marks. It always begins with a roll call. Dr. Marks will ask each team if they are here, and teams raucously respond.
Nick checks blinkers, brake, and emergency lights for the judge.
To save precious battery power, Cameron (sporting blasé black socks) pushed Nick and Elijah to the starting point.
Jackie and Mr. Harris leave the start line first followed by Nick and Elijah.
Each day we are given a task to complete. Today's task was to stop at a McDonald's, order food at the drive through window, and eat it in the car. Nick and Elijah had hash browns. It certainly caused heads to turn.
Here's a video:
With endless sunshine, a constant wind, and oil and gas rich earth, evidence of wind power and gas/oil fracking is a common sight.
Our team continued with the strategy developed yesterday—use as much down hill momentum on the car as possible. It was a lot of driving for a mile or two, then spending a few minutes setting out cones, flagging traffic, and pushing the car on the trailer to the next level or downhill slope. Tomorrow the smaller sprocket will be installed, our gear ratio will increase and the car should be able to do a better job of handling hills. I know that some of the photos give the impression that the land is flat, but in reality there are very long gradual inclines and declines.
Video of solar car from yesterday and Mr. Lucks explaining issue with our sprocket:
We had a mandatory fifteen minute stop at a park. We spent the time visiting with other teams, speaking with the public, and standing under shady trees.
This solar car has a thermal vinyl wrap on its sheet metal body.
Shady sycamore.
Old rust free cars are common in Kansas.
Why the curve?
Riding in a van all day allows us all to get to know each other better. There is interesting conversation, laughter, solar car planning, and sleeping.
We drove into the small town of El Dorado for lunch. Chris and I conversed with a friendly couple. I learned from the man that the refinery we passed on the outskirts of town was an oil refinery. He told me the wells in this area are 1,000' deep'. By comparison, some wells in Texas are 15,000.
Video of car driving on main street in El Dorado, KS
Mr. Lucks in chase car #1.
Cameron flagging
Grainery
After a long day of strategy driving the solar car, we arrived at our destination of Manhattan, Kansas. We were tired, hot, and exhausted. The chamber of commerce treated us to pizza and perfect water.
About eighty miles out of El Dorado our car lost all power. At the end of the day Mr. Lucks, Nick, Alex and Steve began to analyze the batteries and wires. The red tape around the battery pack is sealed so that racers can not swap out their batteries. Under the watchful eye of Judge Christian, the red tape around the battery pack was broken and it was easy to discover a melted terminal cover and terminal. Christian had to oversee the breaking of the red tape and we incurred a penalty. 
Team members from Houston, Mississippi visiting with us. 
Pizza!
Mr. Lucks is very happy that the new sprocket is ready to be installed.
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