Arrival in Darwin

The team arrived in Darwin this afternoon, after spending our morning at Litchfield National Park outside of the city. The morning was very enjoyable, as we got to swim in two different waterfalls at the park--quite a relief given the hot temperatures in the Northern Territory!

Only part of our team visited the Hidden Valley Raceway this afternoon, as Infinium and its trailer aren't arriving in Darwin until late tomorrow. In order to familiarize themselves with the race track where qualifying will take place, our track drivers got to walk and drive around the course in the afternoon. Tomorrow we will further acclimate ourselves in Darwin while we await Infinium's arrival. We will also learn the exact time on Thursday or Friday that we must pass through pre-race scrutineering, where our car is inspected to make sure it meets all race regulations. After two years of anticipation, it is quite a feeling to be in Darwin, and we are looking forward to the start of the race on Sunday.

Comments

Congratulations on a nice
Congratulations on a nice looking car. TC has been doing a great job of research but I have found an additional resource to check out. Another American team, Principia College has updated their website www.prin.edu/solar to include an entire new WSC (Green Global Challenge) webpage including live GPS tracking and interactive map, links to their live radio program (3:30pm CST, Oct. 20-23 & 25-29), downloadable podcasts if you can't listen live, a competitors link with many of the competing team's websites linked and translated to english (just click on team name), photos, team, and tabs at bottom to additional information including their updates page which is in a similar format to this site (with an ability to post comments back to the team). Hoping that everyone finds this as interesting as it was to me.
Good luck with the
Good luck with the scrutineering! Keep us posted! Go Blue!
Aurora's website said:" The
Aurora's website said:" The top American team, the University of Michigan, also arrived. Once again they have brought their huge semi trailer, containing a full mobile workshop." Sounds like a little semi trailer envy there. I like the part "top American team." They also said a Turkish team rolled one of their support vehicles, but their solar car arrived in Darwin intact.
The Turkish team, SAİTEM,
The Turkish team, SAİTEM, from Sakarya University is the team that we had the opportunity to meet with in Adelaide before we left for Darwin. It was very fun chatting with them in Adelaide, and we've all gotten to know each other better over the past few days in Darwin. While driving up to Darwin from Adelaide, just north of Alice Springs, their truck carrying their trailer flipped over, but their driver and passengers were okay. The trailer didn't actually roll over, so the car is fine. Some Global Green Challenge officials and volunteers were making their way north at the time, so the GGC crew helped out and pulled their trailer north. SAITEM now has a new van to pull their trailer, and speaking with them today, it sounds like they have a list of minor things to change before they re-scrutineer, but no major issues.
I may be Australian but my
I may be Australian but my colours are 'Maize and Blue' through and through. I want you guys to win but if you don't, at least beat Aurora. Good luck at scrutineering. Go Blue!
Hi Team and supporters.
Hi Team and supporters. Brian, to get you pumped even more, i have uploaded some more pictures here http://www.alishacook.com/solar2.html Hope you enjoy them
Hey Steve and Alisha! Wish I
Hey Steve and Alisha! Wish I could get down there to say hi. Those are some great pictures though; Infinium looks simply gorgeous on the road!
Let's see if we can get one
Let's see if we can get one for the USA this time... good luck to you guys, my team mates will see you at the start and finish lines (who sees who first TBD). Go Blue (and Gold)! Regards from the damp Pacific Northwest, Andy Berner, GRA, UW Dept. Atmos. Sci. Aerodynamicist/Meteorologist, Principia College Solar Car Team '02 - '09
Really looking forward to
Really looking forward to your race updates and wish you the best. Keep your solar panel installation clean, and Go Blue! Car looks great.
Way to go Team! Drink some
Way to go Team! Drink some iced coffee for me. Oh man, I'm so pumped! This is going to be an exciting race. Great to see everyone on the blog.
Check out Aurora's
Check out Aurora's introduction to the race, featuring Chito (http://www.aurorasolarcar.com/programs/2009_2010/2009_ggc_intro.pdf). PS lets see some of the practice lap times from all the teams.
Infinium's second lap with
Infinium's second lap with the upper surface on was a 2:13--very good considering that it was only our second lap, and that we aren't pushing the car as hard as we would in qualifying. From 2007's qualifying, some reference times are: Umicore: 2:08 (Challenge class pole position) Aurora: 2:09 Nuon: 2:10 Continuum: 2:30
Steve, thanks for the
Steve, thanks for the numbers. Infinium sounds fast. And Doug, thanks for the link to Aurora's website. I hadn't found that yet. Somebody let us know how scrutineering goes.
Have a great time at the
Have a great time at the track, keep hydrated!!! I suggest cooling off with a Tim Tam or two (or three or four...) Looking forward to updates. GO BLUE!
3 or 4, Roxanna? Maybe per
3 or 4, Roxanna? Maybe per minute! Oh tim tams...
Brooke and Roxanna No wonder
Brooke and Roxanna No wonder you are not here in Australia, that many TimTans, you wouldnt fit in the solar car. Hope you are both well, wish you and the other 2007 girls were here, the team has let me down this year, only 2 girls, although they are both beauties, just like the 2007 team.
Kick some ass at the track
Kick some ass at the track you guys! Go Blue!
Hi Chris, Whilst i am posting
Hi Chris, Whilst i am posting comments i may as we comment on your comment. Kick some ass, no swearing on the blog please. No what the hell it is Australia, go ahead kick ass. Bye the way hope you are keeping well also.
An enthusiastic crowd at the
An enthusiastic crowd at the GM Design Center Fabrication Shops is ready to cheer you on from afar. We all wish the InfiniUM team the best of luck and look forward to hearing good news from Australia. Go Fast, Go Smooth, Go Blue!
Good Luck you guys! I'm
Good Luck you guys! I'm really excited and jealous and I wish I could be there with you. Will there be daily updates during the race or another way for us to keep track of you? Go Fast, Go Smooth, Go Blue!
LITTLE SPOON!!!! let's go to
LITTLE SPOON!!!! let's go to Darwin.
Can we PLEASE!!! Big spoon I
Can we PLEASE!!! Big spoon I miss you. You should be in ann arbor always...Or we should BE IN DARWIN!
I can't BELIEVE the race
I can't BELIEVE the race starts Sunday. Good luck at the track, stay cool! Go Blue!!