Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2003, Page 198

Description:	race toStory by Joanna AllerhandThe solar bike team consistently places first innational competitions, yet for those not involved, thequestion remains: what exactly is solar bike? I dontthink that most people know what solar bike is or whatit does, senior Liz Keenan said.Junior Laura Patton, a rider for the team, describedit as being both academic and athletic. While Pattonand other riders were out riding their bikes, mechanicsput in long hours preparing the vehicles for competition.We build solar-assisted vehicles, junior Mike Snowsaid. They added solar-powered batteries to road bikes,making them weigh over 80 pounds.The technical aspect required knowledge ofcomputers and basic electrical work. Junior RalphDorotheo joined because, They needed someone whoworked with computers and electrical work. Clubmembers also considered it a way to gain exposure tounusual opportunities. Its probably the best learningexperience [that Ive had], junior Nate ODonnell said.The time spent gaining these skills, however, wasoften extensive. We probably spent about 10 hours aweekend for the past three months [working],Dorotheo said. The work before the national race inKansas was even more intense. Basically youre upworking 24 hours a day for three days before the race,junior Josh Figuered said. Its a long road getting there,but when everything works out, its fabulous.Sponsor Ms. Cindy Kvale, science, preparesto ride in the fat mans race. The race wasput on for sponsors.Three days prior tomotor controller forracing team traveled( th« th.i toJunior Mike Snow pedals alongside junior Josh Figuered as hetakes the new solar car for a spin in front of South to test out theeffectiveness of the new electronic computer system.198 ACTPPIFSPreparing to test the computer system for the new solarcar, Bruce Moore, an engineer at Crane, assists the solarracing team members to help callibrate the computer.
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/6975
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

Further information on this record can be found at its source.