After a full day of racing, the team has arrived in Effingham, Illinois. The team left Fort Wayne, Indiana at 8:12 AM (we had to observe the final 12 minutes of our checkpoint to start the day) and arrived in Kokomo, Indiana at 10:40 AM.

While at the checkpoint, the weather crew successfully launched a weather balloon from the weather vehicle. Thanks once again to Ford for providing us with a F-150 Platinum to transport our weather equipment, and to InterMet Systems for providing our team with the radiosondes launched by the balloon.

The team prepares to lift the upper surface at the control point in Kokomo, Indiana.

Rachel Unger stretches after her stint in the solar car while Sudeep Rohatgi readies himself for his turn.

After leaving from Kokomo, the team drove to Terre Haute, Indiana, arriving at 3:45. Leaving Terre Haute, the team drove towards Effingham, Illinois, with an eye on storms to the west and south of Effingham. Fortunately, the team reached Effingham minutes before 5:00 PM, avoiding all traces of rain.

We would like to thank the Knights of Columbus in Effingham, Illinois, where we have currently set up camp for tonight. They have graciously allowed us to inhabit their parking lot, where we will prepare for the next day. Tomorrow's route takes us from Effingham, Illinois to Bloomington, Illinois, then on to Kankakee, Illinois, and finally towards South Bend, Indiana.

Tomorrow, Monday, July 19 at 8 am we will be starting a mock race throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois following this route.  Depending on weather, we anticipate the mock race to last until Friday, with the finish line occuring at the Dune Climb in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.

We are currently making last minute additions to the array and lower surface of the vehicle.  For those not driving tomorrow, it should be a long night.

Ethan Stark and Steve Hechtman Wire the Array

Dylan Keefe-Reitzell Applies Silicone to Seal Laminates