North American Solar Challenge 2005
Announcements for Teams
Recent | 2004.07 - 2004.12 | 2004.01 - 2004.06
| 2003.11 - 2003.12
Announcements from HQ to Teams for the 2005 North American Solar Challenge.
2005.03.16 - Border Crossing - Team List
An Excel version of the form for the Team List is now online (http//americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2005/route/customs/forms.html).
The Excel file has two sheets. The first sheet has instructions and the second sheet has the form.
Please complete the form and email it to teaminfo@americansolarchallenge.org by April 15, 2005.
This form will be used by Canada Border Services Agency to help expedite the border crossing. They will check the team lists to discover any problems as soon as possible and to make the border crossing as fast as possible.
We realize that there may be people who are unsure of their schedules for July. It is better to include everyone who is considering participating than to wait until they know for sure what their plans are. If there are any team additions or subtractions after April 15, please notify NASC as soon as possible.
NOTE: This form will also be used for NASC team badges and it is the same form that is on the Entry Info page.
Team members who will be with the team during scrutineering in July but who will not be crossing the border still need to be included. They do not have to provide Date of Birth, Citizenship, or Phone Number information.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the form.
2005.03.02 - Scrutineering Update
We had hoped to have a second scrutineering session for NASC2005 in the Northeast. Unfortunately, due to a number of factors, that will not possible. We realize there were some teams in that region who were looking forward to the opportunity and we apologize that it won't be available.
All of the Preliminary Scrutineering and and Preliminary Qualifying will be at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kansas.
MAY 16-17 -- Registration and Scrutineering
MAY 18-20 -- Qualifying (additional Scrutineering on May 18).
All teams, regardless of whether or not they are prepared to enter the qualifying track need to attend from May 16-18. Teams that are trying to qualify will be given first priority for inspection stations. Teams with partial vehicles may need to complete inspection on May 18th.
If you cannot bring your entire vehicle, we strongly encourage you to bring as much as possible. If you have a lithium battery pack, we strongly encourage you to bring enough of your battery system to test your battery protection circuitry.
At minimum, each team must send two team members with documents and photos for Mechanical, Electrical, Body/Sizing Stations. If this is not met, there will be a rayce time penalty of 110 minutes.
When you know what your team will be bringing, please send me an update ("Attempting to qualify", "Partial vehicle", "Paperwork").
Please let me know if you have any questions.
2005.02.22 - Driver Training
We recently mailed letters to faculty advisors with basic recommendations about driver training. The recommendations are online at http//americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2005/teams/drivers/index.html. You can navigate to this page by going to the main Team page (http//americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2005/teams/) and clicking on "Driver Training".
Driver training is very important and can sometimes be overlooked in the rush to complete a car. Please take a close look at your team's program and any improvements that you can make to it. If you have suggestions that you would like to share, please let us know. We would like to include them on driver training page.
2005.02.22 - Structural Reports
You are all undoubtedly very excited that Structural Reports are due March 1, 2005. This means that they need to actually be here, not postmarked by March 1st. Consideration will be given if the delivery company has problems delivering it or if the report is held up by customs.
Please review the instructions for the proper format and number of copies. The instructions are online at http//americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2005/tech/.
I will try to send an email to each team to confirm that we received the report. If you do not hear from me, please contact me to double check.
Please note that for every day that your structural report is late, your team will be moved back one place in the start order for the Rayce.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
2005.02.16 - Route Information
There is now updated information about the route online at http//americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2005/route/ in the section "Route Directions".
Here are some of the changes since the July Trial Drive:
---The start will be at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum north of the capitol (at 1800 N. Congress Avenue at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd).
---We will be going to Weatherford on the west side of Dallas instead of to Plano.
---The checkpoint location in Omaha has been changed to a school.
---The checkpoint after Omaha will be at Sioux Falls instead of Pipestone.
---In general the roads into and out of Sioux Falls are probably the least defined at this point.
---The location of the stop in Winnipeg has been changed to Red River College. The start out of Winnipeg will likely be at a legislative building.
---The finish will either be at U. Calgary or in downtown Calgary.
---In general, there will likely be small adjustments to the roads on the next route drives, but we aren't expecting major changes or checkpoint location changes.
If your team is planning a route survey, please let us know. We appreciate as much advance warning as possible.
2005.01.26 - Preliminary Scrutineering Attendance
To clarify a few things:
For NASC2005, all North American (Canada, USA, Mexico) based teams are required to attend a Preliminary Scrutineering. It is in your team's interest to bring as complete a vehicle as possible. Preliminary Scrutineering is an important opportunity to catch problems while there is still time for repairs and refinement.
At minimum, each team must send two team members with documents and photos for Mechanical, Electrical, Body/Sizing Stations. If this is not met, there will be a substantial penalty.
2005.01.24 - Border Crossing Info
There is now some information online about the border crossing into Canada for NASC2005.
http://www.americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2005/route/
Currently there is general information about customs issues for people entering Canada and information about timing issues related to the border crossing.
As soon as possible, we will be adding pages with information about materials/cargo and what forms teams will need to complete in advance.
If you have any questions about the border crossing, please let us know.
2005.01.19 - BPS Testing Procedure
ASC inspectors have developed a procedure for testing battery protection systems during NASC2005 Scrutineering. Instructions for the test procedure are available online at http//www.americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2005/tech/bps.html.
Please read the document carefully and contact us if you have any questions.
Thank you to everyone who helped review the draft version of the document!
A REMINDER: We continue to strongly recommend that teams send in their battery forms, manufacturer's spec sheets, and preliminary BPS designs as early as possible. Once you start sending in the documents, the electrical inspector can begin a dialogue with your team to address any concerns with the batteries or protection system. It is beneficial to your team to get this feedback as early as possible, preferably before you buy the batteries and start building the BPS.
***Note This is important even if you are using the same type of batteries as you did in 2003.***
At this point, many teams have not turned in their forms. This means that we will likely have a lot to process in a shorter amount of time. That not only can create a backlog in the review process, but it means that teams will have less time to make use of any feedback in their planning.
Additionally, please note that while we try to review the documents quickly, they cannot always be processed immediately. This means that if you turn in your documents a few days before you need to purchase your batteries, there is a chance that we will not be able to give you feedback before your purchase date.