tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39980700388717415052024-02-06T18:17:12.272-08:00UKZN Solar CarFollow our journey across the Australian outback as we race in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-69349409875308307602015-10-26T21:54:00.002-07:002015-10-27T13:55:20.014-07:00Race Day 6 - Friday<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">As we moved steadily south towards Adelaide the
temperature slowly dropped. Friday morning was a struggle to get up and out of
our sleeping bags with an outside temperature of about 10°C! But with our last
night of camping behind us, and the last day of the race before us we all
crawled out of bed and got started to our respective morning jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">8am we hit the road raring to go, with no need
to worry about draining the solar car battery, and 2 teams in front of us we
had hopes to catch up to, we averaged a speed between 80-90 km/h. We soon left
the peaceful small town road and scenery behind us and hit Adelaide traffic
with no other teams in sight - likely also having pushed their cars to the max.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span>We finished the race though! Over 3000 km
through the Australian outback, the car (and team) have successfully completed
the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge as a first time entrant! Wow was the team
happy when we crossed that finish line! An absolutely incredible feeling!</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">After having some photos the car was pulled
forward so that the battery pack could be checked for tampering, and then the
car was moved to the viewing tent where the public could ooh and aah over the
amazing Hulamin! Soon thereafter the exhausted team split up to head to our
Adelaide accommodation for a well-earned hot shower and sleep in a proper bed! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This has been a hard yet exhilarating journey,
but it has come to an end. Cheers, Minke<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-24641453484152322342015-10-26T20:54:00.005-07:002015-10-27T13:53:53.029-07:00Race Day 5 - Thursday<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">A portion of the team was up into the wee hours
of this morning working on the car (which was successfully repaired), and so a
5 am wake up saw some exceptionally tired faces. As we had officially stopped
at the Coober Pedy control stop, a portion of the team took the car back there
for the morning sunning session while the rest of the team worked on packing up
the camp site – goodbye amazing showers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Back on the road at 8 am saw a (mostly) smooth
day’s travelling! Again we passed through two control stops the first at Glendambo
(2432 km into the race) and the second at Port Augusta (2719 km into the race).
Between the two control stops we had a blowout, which Fiona, the solar car driver
at the time, handled very well, safely maneuvering to the side of the road
where the team quickly did a wheel change. Back on the road and all was good
until the wind picked up and it became a constant battle to keep the car on the
straight and narrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Once again the 5 pm cutoff was quickly
approaching and the team needed somewhere to pull-off and bed down for the
night. We ended up pulling over onto the verge of a privately owned race track
where the team got to sunning the car while a few members tried to contact the
owner. We were graciously allowed to camp within the race track grounds which
afforded us a beautiful flat camping spot and toilets – free of charge! Thank
you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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With only another 300 km left of the race to
go, and other teams camping a mere 20 km down the road, the team was
surprisingly relaxed. There was minimal work to be done on the car besides
check everything was in good working order and get as much sleep as possible.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Tomorrow we will finish the race in Adelaide,
stay tuned! Minke<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-13116741904395462502015-10-22T00:15:00.001-07:002015-10-26T20:56:06.933-07:00Race Day 4 - Wednesday<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">After a rough and windy night the team crawled
out of bed and got to work. At this stage of the race the many late nights and
early mornings are catching up and people are exhausted, but everyone knows
their role and once personal business is attended to we all hop to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the car into position - protecting those wheels from the fierce thorns we camped with last night!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're on the road again!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US">The first control stop of the day was at Kulgera
1756 km into the race, which is 30 km away from the state border between South
Australia and the Northern Territory (1786 km into the race).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH3XOWpG0bvJrXKxb6xyT9Js5J1SLtal3bzc-GrbrXVAbOpgUssZyc-GvbMWi_s2YAZxkasVvgDspIgtfZl0ngdftC4udLS0T-JZngv2gRWhYvG6YFEXTp7cJqoDs00d7E_NckxchFPI/s1600/IMG_1887+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH3XOWpG0bvJrXKxb6xyT9Js5J1SLtal3bzc-GrbrXVAbOpgUssZyc-GvbMWi_s2YAZxkasVvgDspIgtfZl0ngdftC4udLS0T-JZngv2gRWhYvG6YFEXTp7cJqoDs00d7E_NckxchFPI/s640/IMG_1887+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpqs90_D4eFg8sLZCZ78gG3XdM-OiLUmZnGIfLGOM5GqFttrc0YVaTKZXRPOSecvgYnE2fAuYWyVZ-ocPnhrRs5I9H0wPwAJsoIb4ddNxLLbFso91fez3zh1iqRiTObz0Uv8rHCBSa_c/s1600/IMG_1121+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpqs90_D4eFg8sLZCZ78gG3XdM-OiLUmZnGIfLGOM5GqFttrc0YVaTKZXRPOSecvgYnE2fAuYWyVZ-ocPnhrRs5I9H0wPwAJsoIb4ddNxLLbFso91fez3zh1iqRiTObz0Uv8rHCBSa_c/s640/IMG_1121+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Midway between the Kulgera and Coober Pedy
control stops the car pulled over to change drivers. Unfortunately as the car
pulled onto the unpaved shoulder of the road a tyre popped. A quick tyre change
later and the car was back on the road! About 40 km from the control stop at Coober
Pedy Kirsty, the solar car driver at the time, started experiencing trouble
with the steering. She managed to get safely to the control stop at Coober Pedy
but once the team lifted the top shell they discovered that the damage was
quite serious – sections of the steering and suspension would need to be
replaced. As a result of this the team could not continue driving until 5 pm
(only 30-minutes worth of driving after the 30-minute control stop) and so we
found ourselves a campsite (with showers – hooray!) for the night. At the end
of day 4 of the race the team had travelled 2178 km by solar, and that is
pretty fantastic!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRxu0L0OQsIsOnNwDUjZCeDFzh0hHdxtH9t_evnkSyE68h__uzkoZEOLYmO-urANdUSibUqq94CConUSSwHxiFSkkfpXldcq3uizvGSUhyoWD6RsPfctavBNIMHnnG5mQPGeuu6jCJ2A/s1600/IMG_1139+%25281024x475%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRxu0L0OQsIsOnNwDUjZCeDFzh0hHdxtH9t_evnkSyE68h__uzkoZEOLYmO-urANdUSibUqq94CConUSSwHxiFSkkfpXldcq3uizvGSUhyoWD6RsPfctavBNIMHnnG5mQPGeuu6jCJ2A/s640/IMG_1139+%25281024x475%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunning next to North West University.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLc92So4onUeWKThWOAzGGTLgBjxEMVst5oRY1WHh-NtcNIQ_L5ZNjPRBF5quI7qfwXL42J1r9FKOJZ_YoN6epSazsBTyQjzjh7UAHZY9BXoq2RCy0Vy9JDdNQGMBs08csBsI7hRJUgac/s1600/IMG_1919+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLc92So4onUeWKThWOAzGGTLgBjxEMVst5oRY1WHh-NtcNIQ_L5ZNjPRBF5quI7qfwXL42J1r9FKOJZ_YoN6epSazsBTyQjzjh7UAHZY9BXoq2RCy0Vy9JDdNQGMBs08csBsI7hRJUgac/s640/IMG_1919+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Investigating the problem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Hold thumbs that repairs go well and we are
full steam ahead tomorrow morning! </span>Minke<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JWgqKxwMAvg/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JWgqKxwMAvg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-82198430571748748782015-10-21T19:18:00.000-07:002015-10-21T19:23:07.045-07:00Race Day 3 - Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LCBW7BUp6L0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LCBW7BUp6L0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Since we were sharing our rest stop with some
other campers, blasting an early morning musical wake-up was a no-go, but Saien
did sing us awake just after 5 am. Slowly the camp stirred to life, and then began
breaking down – literally, not emotionally. After an amazing breakfast of
scrambled eggs, sausage and breakfast muffins the final boxes, buckets, and
bits were packed and we hit the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7a2HprXfZngBA65BMBctoNt_xowLsoehGK0cbU5BhAk9FfuxLmPu3YwhbbMKoZB1DxurLxl-D0xO0gPIZuc4Tr1QHYMd_9rk6kEYZ4IiMOL9qQ7CdGAoiSEN3UR5JihPgksbjpCl5Vo8/s1600/IMG_1676+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7a2HprXfZngBA65BMBctoNt_xowLsoehGK0cbU5BhAk9FfuxLmPu3YwhbbMKoZB1DxurLxl-D0xO0gPIZuc4Tr1QHYMd_9rk6kEYZ4IiMOL9qQ7CdGAoiSEN3UR5JihPgksbjpCl5Vo8/s640/IMG_1676+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp break down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Being in a support car we are able to stop as
we please, as long as we do not fall too far behind the group. Along the days drive
we passed some interesting areas, the first being Devils Marbles. Devils
Marbles is a Conservation Reserve and the attraction are huge, mostly round,
boulders loosely clumped together in the middle of nowhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnqLah8pjROWBcWbIiypH_okjiOs7ixjZiB-K2baUITrfTInWEW6rpsA3w3Dnsj2EKxp-ICUldQRgtjYnVvSDGAIx_ZgBphniWcKROyswqxDjyrmiZJxSZBFzKj3A6DgHpPVhDCpO42c/s1600/DSC_0155+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnqLah8pjROWBcWbIiypH_okjiOs7ixjZiB-K2baUITrfTInWEW6rpsA3w3Dnsj2EKxp-ICUldQRgtjYnVvSDGAIx_ZgBphniWcKROyswqxDjyrmiZJxSZBFzKj3A6DgHpPVhDCpO42c/s640/DSC_0155+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Not too far after the day started the team
entered the first control stop of the day at Barrow Creek 1211 km into the
race. That went well and 30 minutes later the team was back on the road.
Another interesting stop for me was at the Tropic of Capricorn 1464 km into the
race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qhYmz2JDZO5T2zJVmFyoVoGgQtzuYI8EZ-aW35h0rgeDkZNeHnbZG9k7T0vxIKQdaK1eXqVsI7pPgrWIWl9rbw2ciVqJwYE39CERR9tbTsUBmoinygHJ7t76QYPAE2Hw8quMqXaXg2Q/s1600/IMG_1742+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qhYmz2JDZO5T2zJVmFyoVoGgQtzuYI8EZ-aW35h0rgeDkZNeHnbZG9k7T0vxIKQdaK1eXqVsI7pPgrWIWl9rbw2ciVqJwYE39CERR9tbTsUBmoinygHJ7t76QYPAE2Hw8quMqXaXg2Q/s640/IMG_1742+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving over the Tropic of Capricorn.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIakdvN4v2pwa7QErvzLJV1r-Ez6-tEvY5eD4kHfD31VrrkCK72qlHDDGZYUWHrUCeDhJ_bcJ338iKUklYl8XLnRsjZ3G5FnkArlUKwmekqcfTYhVVUNOk2WktsIG8kXzjRnG_XZ3m2wM/s1600/IMG_1094+%2528756x1024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIakdvN4v2pwa7QErvzLJV1r-Ez6-tEvY5eD4kHfD31VrrkCK72qlHDDGZYUWHrUCeDhJ_bcJ338iKUklYl8XLnRsjZ3G5FnkArlUKwmekqcfTYhVVUNOk2WktsIG8kXzjRnG_XZ3m2wM/s640/IMG_1094+%2528756x1024%2529.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The team passed through another control stop
later in the day at Alice Springs after 1496 km, and we stopped to top up on
groceries. As the team carried on there was increasing concern about the
weather we were driving into. Dark ominous clouds, rain, and red tinged clouds suggesting
a wind storm sparked a heated debate about whether to stop early for the night or
push on. Rain or a wind storm is not good at all for the solar panels, and
unfortunately man cannot control the weather, and oft times not accurately
predict it. The debate culminated in the car stopping early and quickly on the
side of the road. Although the site was chosen purely as it was the next
available clear road shoulder for the solar car to stop on, it had a nice clear
area for us to set up camp. We did end up with a few spots of rain, and heavy
wind but thankfully at the campsite we managed to miss the dust storm.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">We are all hoping for clear skies tomorrow to charge up the solar panels!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Minke</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKHzzxRMGoNt7YaLJ1XKcBnBLr-uJtygW-68q_imbJzt4uZSEzKFFcjv4UWDiOh99H05BsCU43Pn31YSrENSPqf7bo3Qp4U27WOTOIgGXM5LbxoWoFI90lBMaoSOwnVrdqwkSNKlaggM/s1600/IMG_1772+%25281024x455%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKHzzxRMGoNt7YaLJ1XKcBnBLr-uJtygW-68q_imbJzt4uZSEzKFFcjv4UWDiOh99H05BsCU43Pn31YSrENSPqf7bo3Qp4U27WOTOIgGXM5LbxoWoFI90lBMaoSOwnVrdqwkSNKlaggM/s640/IMG_1772+%25281024x455%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home for the night.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfpiVCsxnam2YGpfts1hzTkHlX6o_VTHbRhPilpmp4kq5w8FnwMJc1vRqhQeUxXmZo_S5sbpF9cZJNHbi_jEOG5fXAuRNaiDNR-1sjYa7ecua9-fZAzjOciUZbGTWz0naQVVpzN0N16Y/s1600/IMG_1775+%25281024x680%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfpiVCsxnam2YGpfts1hzTkHlX6o_VTHbRhPilpmp4kq5w8FnwMJc1vRqhQeUxXmZo_S5sbpF9cZJNHbi_jEOG5fXAuRNaiDNR-1sjYa7ecua9-fZAzjOciUZbGTWz0naQVVpzN0N16Y/s640/IMG_1775+%25281024x680%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ominous skies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-76655620125144048312015-10-20T23:15:00.000-07:002015-10-21T19:23:47.764-07:00Race Day 2 - Monday<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Ah nothing like some Johnny Clegg to wake up to
in the morning! At 5 am our ‘alarm’ starting blasting (yay for Bluetooth car
speakers) and woke most of us up with a smile. You would think that 3 hours to
break camp is reasonable, but everyone could have done with more time – and a
shower! Many people were stumbling around in the predawn darkness, heading off
to find a suitable bush with the morning paper to take care of business. Part
of the team lent a hand to get the many tents down, cars packed, waterbottles
filled, while others were dealing with getting the car into a prime sunning
spot, and other car related activities. Since we stopped at 17h03 last night we
had a time penalty and were only allowed to leave at 08h03, but as there was
the last minute run around back and forth trying to finalise the car for day 2
of the race.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRJQ8FSOXob8LJD2ed4TCvDGxwzM4ezPRZ8iJyryj5er9F5wLa3UwNgHzhMlW7yS3z1oQlNcA23BWMD3Z1Ok_Vs-9aMgFoUtmY_5DsA-hY6b2xAm_2oQy89YXfYXQqCrOJznaRhKfrgg/s1600/IMG_1529+%2528682x1024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRJQ8FSOXob8LJD2ed4TCvDGxwzM4ezPRZ8iJyryj5er9F5wLa3UwNgHzhMlW7yS3z1oQlNcA23BWMD3Z1Ok_Vs-9aMgFoUtmY_5DsA-hY6b2xAm_2oQy89YXfYXQqCrOJznaRhKfrgg/s640/IMG_1529+%2528682x1024%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunning the car this morning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Once again on the road, we silently cruised
along varying speeds between 60 and 80 km/h. We went through 2 mandatory
control stops, the first at Dunmarra which was 663 km into the race, and the
second at Tennant Creek which was 988 km into the race. After going through the
second control stop time was steadily marching to the 5 pm pull off, when
something went wrong with the solar car. Although it was, thankfully, a short
and easy repair it was enough time for North West University to pass us. UKZN
and NWU have been jostling back and forth for position ever since the race
started, but there are many more days to final reckoning! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOEJsQNqFf9dG1c2EBF7lYzPep1XIjeKj27kZ3b7wO06UN6Ix0hqFhWlOfHANmelx_cvhsduiKIePoR9vZ1sPSefCTKmZP0Ww8yHbILKmAPIUqY_bfSFfqaRnUx0if2byILN27BVgjSs/s1600/IMG_1590+%25281024x594%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOEJsQNqFf9dG1c2EBF7lYzPep1XIjeKj27kZ3b7wO06UN6Ix0hqFhWlOfHANmelx_cvhsduiKIePoR9vZ1sPSefCTKmZP0Ww8yHbILKmAPIUqY_bfSFfqaRnUx0if2byILN27BVgjSs/s640/IMG_1590+%25281024x594%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising along in the heat of the day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgdSLA4bArHHR4X-F7-6YBrc3ZQeWJSUtPnvgY4746latxB3u7U-eAytnKTKyzAm3J1_j-fVQcOi9N10pKgBhwqZm0IFB0904q9ZuYuGTgP3Mz9H6DMXLtd758GaXISAmWvFGEEblJoY/s1600/IMG_1552+%25281024x655%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgdSLA4bArHHR4X-F7-6YBrc3ZQeWJSUtPnvgY4746latxB3u7U-eAytnKTKyzAm3J1_j-fVQcOi9N10pKgBhwqZm0IFB0904q9ZuYuGTgP3Mz9H6DMXLtd758GaXISAmWvFGEEblJoY/s640/IMG_1552+%25281024x655%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to lie the car on its side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvJ6mqgM2wZ-ywxLT1MPnMsRtOZl0ihLwa8rtmxFYys64-vEuoPBjsuRuL0B5U9ei8qssFdEi5KV2EkJ3KXrH-2cRh0gsVwhK5Hzytj3gebwfiQBSoCEmdLlPr6wdJVViwI3s_2QPebI/s1600/IMG_1556+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvJ6mqgM2wZ-ywxLT1MPnMsRtOZl0ihLwa8rtmxFYys64-vEuoPBjsuRuL0B5U9ei8qssFdEi5KV2EkJ3KXrH-2cRh0gsVwhK5Hzytj3gebwfiQBSoCEmdLlPr6wdJVViwI3s_2QPebI/s640/IMG_1556+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooling the panels.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwq6depCNhkkxpO9UIUhX5Wn-hHLZgvCpU2gMHjoiPmSaqlVFvQ-r1nXKsYLdUlfuNX6g3N97NjRVoLEHXuUquI02XB5MVUI2Hwgcl9Y6DvD9XWJoX1SLu5GthrbenwXbK7XoviRt5eeU/s1600/IMG_1078+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwq6depCNhkkxpO9UIUhX5Wn-hHLZgvCpU2gMHjoiPmSaqlVFvQ-r1nXKsYLdUlfuNX6g3N97NjRVoLEHXuUquI02XB5MVUI2Hwgcl9Y6DvD9XWJoX1SLu5GthrbenwXbK7XoviRt5eeU/s640/IMG_1078+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emergency pull over for repairs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Once again with 5 pm approaching we needed to
find a campsite. Most fortuitously there was a rest stop ahead which we pulled
into at exactly 5 pm. This definitely raised everyone’s spirits as there was
(most importantly to some) a good sunny spot to sun the car to recharge the
batteries and (most importantly to others) a borehole water tank for a
semblance of a shower, a good camping spot, and a braai place! Win all round!
Again we split into groups, some dealing with the car and others dealing with
setting up the campsite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIv1wvd0n_KNWqlBRsq9pt891cKjSjVb52JKJksBFEdunRqPEpdYE12JFbTBzhYg_q31IAqdMvxO0CRWdlqpsVfwpLPUBykNdyfIb4q2EiR3rb6aKXJEnfo5CHvwsSrUKqyXhjMMvlXg/s1600/IMG_1660+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIv1wvd0n_KNWqlBRsq9pt891cKjSjVb52JKJksBFEdunRqPEpdYE12JFbTBzhYg_q31IAqdMvxO0CRWdlqpsVfwpLPUBykNdyfIb4q2EiR3rb6aKXJEnfo5CHvwsSrUKqyXhjMMvlXg/s640/IMG_1660+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over our campsite.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYw6GKoXcqA03PUMsDl5YqRFLBEVff0q7mUpxzUwAgh1Bu-lfGWQ65lOIYcOcBbCDxmlThMFWYEU1-32NiEvRaUfBp-kME62yNZHWl5e5G4t22_REkziUvIF5thxx3-nUpjRiIHp4L2A/s1600/IMG_1655+%2528682x1024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYw6GKoXcqA03PUMsDl5YqRFLBEVff0q7mUpxzUwAgh1Bu-lfGWQ65lOIYcOcBbCDxmlThMFWYEU1-32NiEvRaUfBp-kME62yNZHWl5e5G4t22_REkziUvIF5thxx3-nUpjRiIHp4L2A/s640/IMG_1655+%2528682x1024%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">With the light receding everyone turned on
their headlamps, and we made a discovery. All over the ground there were tiny
reflective eyes looking back at us – spiders! We also caught a fairly large
individual stealthily creeping its way up one of the storage crate. Being in
Australia where most species are poisonous everyone was suddenly spurred to
keep their eyes open and to be careful opening and closing the tent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-HdIZeEJCCkEBS09VzJXU6arHdVrKsM_bliXmI-bHnu8GbwL_aIonQoGy26YiQZomiZb3imYsEZuqcEvG9BUwoliFb5W57ADeyqqQxTHq1GJ0z-gDGnh5T0Gl9SwocI0MHniq2Yu2tE/s1600/20151019_210148+%25281024x863%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-HdIZeEJCCkEBS09VzJXU6arHdVrKsM_bliXmI-bHnu8GbwL_aIonQoGy26YiQZomiZb3imYsEZuqcEvG9BUwoliFb5W57ADeyqqQxTHq1GJ0z-gDGnh5T0Gl9SwocI0MHniq2Yu2tE/s640/20151019_210148+%25281024x863%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iKOnosYHe2TOIGp3OlCjtdlAMz0BQiBdnGiXxRkByu35LKppfJR6XVivnRNtaJeBv0nE9QM2hbohHGsyqWDuPwT0BxD_jUMTsWZgfovVEdIK_vMutKKBBGV17u_T5iimcN3ZRb9Winc/s1600/20151019_213458_002+%25281024x792%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iKOnosYHe2TOIGp3OlCjtdlAMz0BQiBdnGiXxRkByu35LKppfJR6XVivnRNtaJeBv0nE9QM2hbohHGsyqWDuPwT0BxD_jUMTsWZgfovVEdIK_vMutKKBBGV17u_T5iimcN3ZRb9Winc/s640/20151019_213458_002+%25281024x792%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Hopefully we all wake up hale and hearty
tomorrow! Minke<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9IAGzr3e7Fg/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9IAGzr3e7Fg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-54019101957664638872015-10-19T21:50:00.002-07:002015-10-21T19:21:43.663-07:00Race Day 1 - Off we go!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Well what a day what a day! The race has begun!
Adelaide here we come!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPaWxVZsSA6g1B-zLtDeM2Eu6qr1RreB_Cp_mOuIHHK82qm6F_717EQo2m0kXQMf4RUfHuaNTYnONrnms1oc5TIDAULQl8382wexhM5P1bx_wUI0Vxzzc5C5xfn_nDJAb4JoaCHjGZUM/s1600/Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPaWxVZsSA6g1B-zLtDeM2Eu6qr1RreB_Cp_mOuIHHK82qm6F_717EQo2m0kXQMf4RUfHuaNTYnONrnms1oc5TIDAULQl8382wexhM5P1bx_wUI0Vxzzc5C5xfn_nDJAb4JoaCHjGZUM/s640/Map.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Everyone was late to bed and early to rise
again – everyone is quite sleep deprived and running on adrenaline and
excitement. Even with the car packed there was the usual last minute run around
trying to organize the solar car as well as personal luggage and camping
equipment. For this race, besides the solar car Hulamin, we have 6 support cars
to transport 20 UKZN team members (and one race official that accompanies us)
and all the associated personal luggage, camping equipment, and food – not to
mention a variety of spare parts and tools needed to keep Hulamin running as
optimally as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">As per the time trials done on Saturday,
Hulamin was 24<sup>th</sup> out of 43 entrants off the starting block, but
technical difficulties resulted in us being a few cars behind that intended
position. The race started from Parliament Square, and I was very impressed
with how officials managed to streamline the start. Rules of the race include
that the solar car needs to be bracketed by a lead and follow vehicle at all
times, so imagine trying to get 129 vehicles on the road in as short a time as
possible, because time lost at the start is time never gained back. It was also
a very festive mood at Parliament Square as people gathered to watch the start
of the race. There was lots of cheering, and lots of photographs taken – it was
a time to be able to see all the cars that had entered the race at one time.
Our car started and then I was the one doing all the cheering – it is so
exciting and such a privilege to be part of this!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWL6c2kJRBiwEZ4CRF5QUsZeRXzH0RDRaCtr_Jy3o5vjjc2tGpo9kjRnp9rPpFa-aS1i5yIGyfe6vHhDBEevimp_BQhzGJtE4tPuAK8P5N8UHQeS6B4K9s7PwdxygmPmUtyewczbqiPg/s1600/IMG_1067+%25281024x550%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWL6c2kJRBiwEZ4CRF5QUsZeRXzH0RDRaCtr_Jy3o5vjjc2tGpo9kjRnp9rPpFa-aS1i5yIGyfe6vHhDBEevimp_BQhzGJtE4tPuAK8P5N8UHQeS6B4K9s7PwdxygmPmUtyewczbqiPg/s640/IMG_1067+%25281024x550%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The next few hours on the road were rather
mundane for me, sitting in my allotted car following a few cars behind the
solar car. But for the lead and follow vehicles and definitely Hulamin and its
driver it was an intense time - overtaking other (slower) solar cars, dealing
with long road trains that buffet the lightweight solar car as they come
speeding past, general crosswinds, and managing the solar car at a speed that
optimizes car performance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2Rhli73g1kVKBCtwOsnIYwop9uOISvhjAS3JfZM3VXdpHC2u2rXbOiEc-ws5PbsSrGGV_npydvMFU3CYi4Ufr9BRYOSERUy77qZLkgaY4R7ru1XTxHK9pFzJvXGWtZvz4K7gxUpOLYQ/s1600/IMG_1485+%25281024x678%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2Rhli73g1kVKBCtwOsnIYwop9uOISvhjAS3JfZM3VXdpHC2u2rXbOiEc-ws5PbsSrGGV_npydvMFU3CYi4Ufr9BRYOSERUy77qZLkgaY4R7ru1XTxHK9pFzJvXGWtZvz4K7gxUpOLYQ/s640/IMG_1485+%25281024x678%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Each car is equipped with a citizen band (cb) radio,
and this became quite important as cellphone reception was patchy, even on our
first day of travel. After 322 km on the road there was a mandatory control
stop for the lead and follow vehicles and Hulamin. This stop was used to swap
drivers (there are four team members who will alternate driving Hulamin), to
angle to top shell to the sun, and to spray water on the panels to cool them
down. An important rule at any stage of the race when the car has stopped and
is being sunned is do not shade the solar panels – ever!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">At the end of the 30-minute stop it was a race
to get back into the cars and go go go! Once back on the road we had another
few hours of driving before the 5 pm cutoff approached. At this stage everyone
was getting very anxious to find a campsite for the night. We have to pull at
least 10 m off the road and that is a huge challenge with the road side terrain
and vegetation. A few minutes past 5 pm we came across a pull off spot – both on
the left and right hand side of the road there was an area that had had the
grass chopped. When the car stopped a large portion of the team leaped into
frantic action setting up the solar car to catch the last few rays of sun, and
doing various other car related jobs. I went to inspect the potential campsites
on either side of the road with a few others. We decided on a spot and got to
work setting up tents and getting supper on the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90FtxDc9jg3j-Gc-Szh3fpwwIaKnvYcrtNEwL_Hx9AVazZq9H5O2cT10PWCR7z73pYevtrZaTsKi2Q57IurTvYlrPBKep-XdNMDISyvH6XDmZBR9O6zsPgu0L6Dut_HFn3hWbCDbIWEs/s1600/IMG_1506+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90FtxDc9jg3j-Gc-Szh3fpwwIaKnvYcrtNEwL_Hx9AVazZq9H5O2cT10PWCR7z73pYevtrZaTsKi2Q57IurTvYlrPBKep-XdNMDISyvH6XDmZBR9O6zsPgu0L6Dut_HFn3hWbCDbIWEs/s640/IMG_1506+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching the last rays of sunshine!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4FLf5dvn26WvWTskHucGgcVRCY_2ElpIFhpFxxtM6gHr8GH9doAkBO4VTGsB6yMPWgBbxhWYiTn2V2YnLB2JXcfVKEYnHRbH0s9MbGrGToHzUO9KXfWs6lnTviiaSBHoV9x34lTQHNs/s1600/IMG_1510+%2528660x1024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4FLf5dvn26WvWTskHucGgcVRCY_2ElpIFhpFxxtM6gHr8GH9doAkBO4VTGsB6yMPWgBbxhWYiTn2V2YnLB2JXcfVKEYnHRbH0s9MbGrGToHzUO9KXfWs6lnTviiaSBHoV9x34lTQHNs/s640/IMG_1510+%2528660x1024%2529.jpg" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convoy has arrived.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa2-AFor-MIgt0yZP5KCKJiyBp1AsEe4ICfpLe1__vFMcBAtM-OZvXxRc7EW_8YZV_j19NIHDXZYEliWjok6KlG5AnH1q5Q9Cw8d87PFndCz12p5UrTZUJBLwH1v-n0i2B2ac1C1zo-Y/s1600/IMG_1523+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa2-AFor-MIgt0yZP5KCKJiyBp1AsEe4ICfpLe1__vFMcBAtM-OZvXxRc7EW_8YZV_j19NIHDXZYEliWjok6KlG5AnH1q5Q9Cw8d87PFndCz12p5UrTZUJBLwH1v-n0i2B2ac1C1zo-Y/s640/IMG_1523+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organised chaos!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniQ760VlSi4vKgW-eStu8PtUwa-MsQPkjFkepsW9KdnrGuy4MQ0pkd8spj2W2O11fW81sttMRvzdJ40hI1_RsUyCePYwhH8vgZq10woLafyijLOy57I2-Z5bP8leIZ5dq1MYl2o89wTk/s1600/IMG_1520+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniQ760VlSi4vKgW-eStu8PtUwa-MsQPkjFkepsW9KdnrGuy4MQ0pkd8spj2W2O11fW81sttMRvzdJ40hI1_RsUyCePYwhH8vgZq10woLafyijLOy57I2-Z5bP8leIZ5dq1MYl2o89wTk/s640/IMG_1520+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our accommodation for the evening.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">As the sun dipped below the horizon and the light
faded the most brilliant stars became visible and you start to realise exactly
how remote our location is – even more so when you have to break a trail
through long grass to do a bush pee! And then headlamps get turned on, and the
generator gets turned on and our camp is lit up like central Durban, noise
included! With the loss of the sun we had hoped that the temperature would
drop, but not a chance, we were all still hot and sweaty with no chance of a
shower in the bush when we climbed into bed at varying stages through the
night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Everyone was really pleased with how the first
day has gone, so excited to see what tomorrow brings! Minke<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/68E024Qkr8I/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/68E024Qkr8I?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-26926977215987131422015-10-19T21:10:00.001-07:002015-10-21T19:24:41.983-07:00Dynamic scrutineering<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Saturday was another big day for the UKZN solar
car team, with dynamic scrutineering taking place. Dynamic scrutineering involved
testing the car’s driven performance. We were a little unclear on exactly what
time slot we had been given, and so most of the team were at Hidden Valley
early Saturday morning to prepare the car for 8 am dynamic scrutineering if we,
keeping with Tuesday’s static scrutineering, were first.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQguEh7ZFXEe8wfPGBfIC253eeWCGQj6DBFhAFLSprz_fg6A5-ny7T-BAzPXv6NPJFIA-ZUvUn2lSHnz3hbUQECCFpu78IIuTOq73K4idzrIwc_puz0itGYf54W_kK5hvmvZP-LmT5KM/s1600/DSC_0943+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQguEh7ZFXEe8wfPGBfIC253eeWCGQj6DBFhAFLSprz_fg6A5-ny7T-BAzPXv6NPJFIA-ZUvUn2lSHnz3hbUQECCFpu78IIuTOq73K4idzrIwc_puz0itGYf54W_kK5hvmvZP-LmT5KM/s640/DSC_0943+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exciting times at Hidden Valley!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">A delicate balance
exists between using the time available between testing and before the race to
improve and finalise all aspects of the car, and not making changes that are
not so big that they cannot be finalized. Saturday morning the team was testing
the solar panels and seeing how they reacted to the first morning rays of sun,
and as it rose. Luckily for us, we were not the first team to undergo dynamic
scrutineering, we were in fact allowed to join the queue of cars waiting their
turn at our leisure, as long as it was before 11am. Another aspect of
pre-driving car preparation I had yet to see was the torqueing of the
suspension. The body of the car was simultaneously pressed down on both front
wheels a few times to settle the suspension, and then a graduated dowl was held
against the wheel, and the body of the car either moved up or down to align
with their chosen optimum suspension height.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">As fate would have it, just as Shuvay (our
driver for the scrutineering) climbed into the car and we prepared to join the
line, the magnetic seal on the canopy over the driver had failed. So commenced
a quick canopy change, but by the time we joined the queue there were quite a
few cars lined up so we had a long wait in the hot sun. On a side note I need
to express how hot it is here. We think, as Durbanites, that we know heat and
humidity on a fairly intimate level – Durban can get quite hot and humid that’s
for sure! But Darwin, Australia, is HOT! But I suppose it is not so much the
heat that is the problem but the humidity. And Darwin, Australia, is HUMID! So
by the time we were getting to the front of the queue all life and enthusiasm
had been sweated out of our bodies, mostly. We were all standing a bit limply
in the (almost) noonday sun but sent our car off with a good cheer and much
vuvuzela-blowing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBnNABSpRoTMR5FDEY27V1z9vmhTTZC9M0-pFhhR_6mVLDCkjiTFJlnPVMzEjlcgXr0Zu1YrYVt7rdUl7pUHwlGj6UUVvODkloID9kysrklwMFTb2L16vpbaq4KQTHt3J94Bes13O3yo/s1600/IMG_1019+%25281024x1005%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBnNABSpRoTMR5FDEY27V1z9vmhTTZC9M0-pFhhR_6mVLDCkjiTFJlnPVMzEjlcgXr0Zu1YrYVt7rdUl7pUHwlGj6UUVvODkloID9kysrklwMFTb2L16vpbaq4KQTHt3J94Bes13O3yo/s640/IMG_1019+%25281024x1005%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to enter the queue for dynamic scrutineering - keeping the driver cool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXQ3qmK3GvDXBFbLTpRLW-E9cv6IDAlLAZBSG-vupoYY2UaBRD5VnhFNiuQd-IWyEGsPPlJTMDrPxIshth1SE9u0Ct1mzEJVEQOn7OMQpe_3s_FIHIeEEM2z3owVjCzC2LIlSkc1GH-s/s1600/DSC_1008+%25281024x574%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXQ3qmK3GvDXBFbLTpRLW-E9cv6IDAlLAZBSG-vupoYY2UaBRD5VnhFNiuQd-IWyEGsPPlJTMDrPxIshth1SE9u0Ct1mzEJVEQOn7OMQpe_3s_FIHIeEEM2z3owVjCzC2LIlSkc1GH-s/s640/DSC_1008+%25281024x574%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hot out there - find shade where you can!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIoSvD6n_a_ifV2g8UnpsGjShPCa0vLVEW_JEmtp_H2baxc7xDEnsCVK5DoHkA_rTOdppPlZLqhinLRTvkHf6XCBsF7a_B-OWXkNl5MF_d66d8OLkpYfB8iztsy8_e37y6FdM8T5F4lc/s1600/IMG_1027+%25281024x719%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIoSvD6n_a_ifV2g8UnpsGjShPCa0vLVEW_JEmtp_H2baxc7xDEnsCVK5DoHkA_rTOdppPlZLqhinLRTvkHf6XCBsF7a_B-OWXkNl5MF_d66d8OLkpYfB8iztsy8_e37y6FdM8T5F4lc/s640/IMG_1027+%25281024x719%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go team!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAt-N8JoUD5EnP0LzKhY-MFTCT_cygzyrD_sRNJ7iWxFFUhMjg3lHdI9rQ0270j2hRwX6wameuMMz34CTqsVqGsmVaauiKqxkVh52JpsVM_7wr-3pWaGJPETstjR7-2iL1cMO6uhRg0Fw/s1600/IMG_1037+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAt-N8JoUD5EnP0LzKhY-MFTCT_cygzyrD_sRNJ7iWxFFUhMjg3lHdI9rQ0270j2hRwX6wameuMMz34CTqsVqGsmVaauiKqxkVh52JpsVM_7wr-3pWaGJPETstjR7-2iL1cMO6uhRg0Fw/s640/IMG_1037+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And they're off - go Shuvay!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Dynamic scrutineering involved a few aspects:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Two track laps – the first lap was an untimed
lap to get the drivers in the zone, and the second was a timed lap which would
determine in which order the cars were released onto the road on Sunday morning
at the start of the race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Turning circle – as the name suggests, here the
car needed to demonstrate that it could turn in a tight enough circle to be
released onto public roads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Emergency stop – again, as the name suggests,
the car had to get up to a certain speed (35 km/h) and at the officials mark
stop within a certain distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The timed lap went well, we completed it in just over 2
minutes. There is not much for me to say about the turning
circle other than we made it! The emergency stop was pretty awesome. There were
some mild concerns about the stopping power of the break system as they had not
very long before been pulled wider to prevent scrubbing on the wheels, but we
did better than expected! The car needed to be going at 35 km/h before
performing the emergency stop, we were travelling at 45 km/h and still stopped
well within the allotted distance, go team!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Dynamic scrutineering over the rest of the day
was spent organizing boxes and packing vehicles – a job that took well into the
night!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Hold thumbs for the start of the race tomorrow! Minke</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fe9uwKKNfp8/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fe9uwKKNfp8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-22732093211927032662015-10-16T06:08:00.004-07:002015-10-21T19:25:21.265-07:00Static scrutineering<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Tuesday was quite a day for the UKZN solar car
team, being the first to undergo static scrutineering – basically testing
whether the car complies with the rules. The team arrived early at the Darwin
Royal Showgrounds and offloaded the car from the trailer and readied it to
enter the scrutineering arena. Of the team, only seven members were allowed on
the floor while the car was being scrutineered, while everyone else could watch
the proceedings from the balcony above. But first for registration, which was simply
signing in - we did receive an official lanyard though, to be worn at all
times! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNs21mdDgm8WzU-DQaZYZDyy2ad-L7mIKRnkvBDP6C30hCF_xj6P7Rnjq3tAbvT13fVll4Fcq0NM149KPCQ8MpJCcAH_KtdUzYzmAtoDZqVSUyhNmILlmbQBXT92JEKfCCxIQ-ZOpLBA/s1600/DSC_0071+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNs21mdDgm8WzU-DQaZYZDyy2ad-L7mIKRnkvBDP6C30hCF_xj6P7Rnjq3tAbvT13fVll4Fcq0NM149KPCQ8MpJCcAH_KtdUzYzmAtoDZqVSUyhNmILlmbQBXT92JEKfCCxIQ-ZOpLBA/s640/DSC_0071+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team arriving.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHdMdkTb9-9yT9KQkn9Yaz9f__-hOXlUkOyt29u9N8uLrj7P6pzuXAEfkTgbQ38aKQgl3DipESecrFY2Pg6MqRHBXG_-O6Ff4GV9_fYeL9gnqUnoivN1uRXg09zOnc32v226q8dd6zS4/s1600/DSC_0088+%25281024x647%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHdMdkTb9-9yT9KQkn9Yaz9f__-hOXlUkOyt29u9N8uLrj7P6pzuXAEfkTgbQ38aKQgl3DipESecrFY2Pg6MqRHBXG_-O6Ff4GV9_fYeL9gnqUnoivN1uRXg09zOnc32v226q8dd6zS4/s640/DSC_0088+%25281024x647%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team UKZN almost in the house!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">When the car was let in the door, it had to
pass scrutiny at six stations:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Badging – the car was given the official
Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) decal to add to the car, both left and
right sides, and the officials also checked the other BWSC decal branding on
the front of the car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HMSmVOTdCBcSegdRzSRkh2j8arZD6-2MuN4ztRccreOxNVFcQhHoY5BUPV_agPfpkxacXjAJvuuwS2atOLR8wcaZ4-zs3en0OlhAx4sCZUNwvIEWTkdx0DSlr38aAlS1JpQYgLtIqHw/s1600/IMG_0757+%25281024x652%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HMSmVOTdCBcSegdRzSRkh2j8arZD6-2MuN4ztRccreOxNVFcQhHoY5BUPV_agPfpkxacXjAJvuuwS2atOLR8wcaZ4-zs3en0OlhAx4sCZUNwvIEWTkdx0DSlr38aAlS1JpQYgLtIqHw/s640/IMG_0757+%25281024x652%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unveiling the car.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NwNX5beKumAe9qHVfko-eCjElTiTLSMrOzX5VhWyREaSD0mK48U3JWsiiNyh_l18suispbPTv3xh881COibJ8_tahMtzyclv8LZfXfdel9mRHgNroKMwMxWW6bfMKKPyn8pHxxPe0CY/s1600/DSC_0127+%25281024x679%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NwNX5beKumAe9qHVfko-eCjElTiTLSMrOzX5VhWyREaSD0mK48U3JWsiiNyh_l18suispbPTv3xh881COibJ8_tahMtzyclv8LZfXfdel9mRHgNroKMwMxWW6bfMKKPyn8pHxxPe0CY/s640/DSC_0127+%25281024x679%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behold!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wKOP6vhp6Of2T1sJsTfqhFC1vXS88-KrMYd3uCqZzKvqHj1sHwVrVGAP4lVXfjd_i4W9qCoamhGueHWzualSomD9gzPS56xdBx6mVbdzqnilu1PM8zc670x1eCgXRaAXqU3mcgrpxqY/s1600/IMG_0768+%25281024x648%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wKOP6vhp6Of2T1sJsTfqhFC1vXS88-KrMYd3uCqZzKvqHj1sHwVrVGAP4lVXfjd_i4W9qCoamhGueHWzualSomD9gzPS56xdBx6mVbdzqnilu1PM8zc670x1eCgXRaAXqU3mcgrpxqY/s640/IMG_0768+%25281024x648%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridgestone World Solar Challenge decal!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Array measurement – here the length and breadth
of the car was measured. It was also put into the position it would be in when
being charged by the sun (in our case turned on its side) and checked to make
sure it was below a certain height, as well as being self-supporting. This was
done because the car has to be within a certain volume envelope, and with these
measurements the officials could determine this. The car was also weighed coming
in at a whopping 227 kg.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Driver weigh in – this station involved
everything concerning the drivers. Each driver was weighed in, and those under
80 kg were given a ballast bag as the official minimum driver weight is 80kg.
Each driver was also timed during an emergency exit. They also checked that the
drivers were able to get out of the car independently in case of an emergency, as well as that the drivers were protected in the case of the car flipping.
The helmets were also checked that they complied with safety standards. Driver
vision ahead and behind, and all warning lights on the car were checked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Electrical – here the top shell was taken off
and the wiring of the panels, as well as the wiring of car, was checked. This
station was essentially to check the safety of the high voltage system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Batteries – at this station the battery pack
was taken out of the car to check the number of cells, as well as the weight of
the pack (there is a maximum weight limit of 20 kg). Officials also inspected
the general safety of the battery pack. To ensure that teams did not change the
battery pack last minute officials sealed the pack, and took a photo to compare
at the end of the race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">On road – the car was checked for general
road-worthiness by Australian road officials. As the team had already gone
through this process when they did road testing a few days ago, this was a
quick process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">While the car was moving through the six stations the rest of the team watched from above, showing team support, and being proudly South African! It was very interesting to watch as various other cars came through for their round of scrutineering, and how ours compared!</span></div>
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Although there were some minor issues these
were all fixed while at the showgrounds, and we had green stickers all round! A
green round at scrutineering deserved a celebratory supper, and the team headed
down to the beach for drinks and delicious fish, calamari, and chips for supper
while watching the sunset. Beautiful!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Cheers, Minke</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zU5Mg4MX50M/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zU5Mg4MX50M?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-11924566529892921932015-10-15T04:38:00.004-07:002015-10-21T19:26:36.849-07:00Hidden Valley<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Over this past weekend the team for the
Bridgestone World Solar Challenge has slowly been arriving in Darwin, so Monday
morning there were 18 team members at Hidden Valley race course!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Each day we
are able to book two (sometimes three) 30-minute slots on the track, and Monday morning those were
08h30 and 09h00. Trying to get 18 people from two locations to the track in 2
cars was a challenge, but hey, we’re from South Africa we know how to maximise
car seating effectively! Equally as much of a challenge was getting people who
are not morning people up and at ‘em! We arrived at our allotted garage at
Hidden Valley in varying states of chipper, and the team got to work readying
Hulamin for the track. We newcomers have very quickly learnt that at the workshop
the best place to be is out of the way. The team know what they are doing and
for us trying to help we end up in the way, so best observe from a distance and
avoid horrible misfortunes that would befall us if we even thought about going
near the solar panels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This car is a few years in the planning and
making and this close to the start of the race it would be devastating to have
something go wrong, as such it is treated with utmost care, especially the
solar panels which are the most sensitive component of the car. The solar
panels are in the removable top shell of the car, which is covered with a big
blue fluffy blanket when not in use. All movements of the top shell are a
carefully coordinated affair, even the bolting and unbolting to the main body –
I, for one, was very impressed with the ‘pit time’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHTejbjmjHNjUpn1fbeRK3wQpsItNFZX0-sqfWDK1V0jxakHTH92-6vGOdVaeW-ldAJW_GGGhb8jL8G3TZa2X3QsMl0G2mKlmRkjZ7rOlZsGVwGZ04FADbDQJH_Vjo4RMFEDN0Wez9rQ/s1600/IMG_0649+%25281024x585%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHTejbjmjHNjUpn1fbeRK3wQpsItNFZX0-sqfWDK1V0jxakHTH92-6vGOdVaeW-ldAJW_GGGhb8jL8G3TZa2X3QsMl0G2mKlmRkjZ7rOlZsGVwGZ04FADbDQJH_Vjo4RMFEDN0Wez9rQ/s640/IMG_0649+%25281024x585%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driver in!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfSchZX-t187-6UsdPGXJWn2WcOAN80zlr4MPWPryM1ko0Z7ZaTXfTkiSPkhrLbKbuQqsr03j2rE8KnOA6H5QjXcM815hxYkYVhiVmOWNd4vjd_OTccc4cVGWc_HnUZJZ83KwD9uhvko/s1600/IMG_0668+%25281024x575%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfSchZX-t187-6UsdPGXJWn2WcOAN80zlr4MPWPryM1ko0Z7ZaTXfTkiSPkhrLbKbuQqsr03j2rE8KnOA6H5QjXcM815hxYkYVhiVmOWNd4vjd_OTccc4cVGWc_HnUZJZ83KwD9uhvko/s640/IMG_0668+%25281024x575%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pit stop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fiona was the driver for Monday’s track time,
and sped around the track a lot faster (and WAY quieter) than I had
anticipated! And when I say sped, she cruised around at a sweet 90 km/hr. For
me this was a very exciting time as this was the first time I had actually seen
the car in action, driving on the road. Every time it came around the track on
my side it was a photograph and admire opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Let me digress, yet again, to tell you about
the Hidden Valley race track, and the rules of the road. The track was not a
simple oval shaped track as I had (perhaps naively) expected, but had twists
and turns, slopes and stretches, but was not a large overall distance to cover.
Rules of the track are that a team vehicle must follow behind the solar car at
all times, and radio contact must be maintained with the driver of the car (who
is wearing a very cool helmet linked to the handheld radio frequency). Another
team member, Kirsty, had to stand at the entrance of the track as ground
support, also in radio contact. All the ground support members of the solar
cars on the track stand at the entrance of the track together. I was quite
indignant when another car was being let onto the track during ‘our’ track
time, but they allow up to four solar cars on the track at the same time. Overtaking
is very organized and civilized. The overtaker radios their ground support
team, who verbally informs the ground support team of the soon-to-be overtaken,
who then radios the driver to inform them the car behind wishes to pass. The
soon-to-be overtaken moves left and the overtaker, well, overtakes. Everything
is done to ensure the safety of the drivers, and the cars!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As our two 30-minute slots were back-to-back on
Monday, Fiona had to pull in for a mandatory pit stop between them. The car
came in and the team got to unscrewing the top shelf to check on some or other
aspect of the car before the top shelf
was again affixed and Fiona drove back on to the track for the second 30-minute
slot. With the car on the track many of the team members have a brief moment to
sit and relax, as once the car is back from the track there is no time for idle
hands, especially with static scrutineering on Tuesday!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Just before 12 a group of us left to go and
collect 2 more vehicles for the team, as well as some lunch! Prices here are
quite scary, especially if you are going to start converting back to rands, but
we all need to eat, so it is often a case of find the cheapest brand of what
you’re looking for and buy it. Back at the track a hungry team was fed and the
work continued. After supper, four delicious gas barbequed chickens (we are
feeding hungry hordes), potato salad, and green salad, we had a team meeting. We
had been given the dubious honour of being the first team to go through static
scrutineering! Apparently our car has been judged to be amongst the most
prepared and ready with only minor changes and adjustments to be made. We will
be undergoing scrutineering with what our team views as the best cars taking
part in the race – go us!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">Tomorrow we shall see what happens! Minke</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-81577096844008475352015-10-05T07:47:00.001-07:002015-10-05T07:48:46.967-07:00Following 14 - Episode 2 - Australian Soil<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
In this episode five team mates arrive in Adelaide and then take a road trip to check out the race route, gather important Outback intel, soak in the sunsets and ponder the conundrum of how to share out a pack of eleven Tim Tams among five guys.</div>
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Meanwhile in Darwin...Kirsty takes on the Australian customs, slow internet connection and a flat tyre without even breaking a sweat.</div>
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And in Durban.....the rest of the team are quite literally sipping cocktails on the beach!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-7015842970720283162015-10-04T09:48:00.000-07:002015-10-04T09:48:52.330-07:00I was scared that our car might not make it across the ocean.. But that ship has sailed.<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KlX8_AFbK3-MdCvzplNDX52_9fchwq0NerrMTDwMI5qgLFcBmhWr2dTsKzU_xqTauhr_2JEJ3DseWc51S5LZazMqMFsyO6XXMaWEsE4Rl5Y1tZ5XM0FJu1u3vetn6xqHFCyXtyTlbus/s1600/Darwin-harbour-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KlX8_AFbK3-MdCvzplNDX52_9fchwq0NerrMTDwMI5qgLFcBmhWr2dTsKzU_xqTauhr_2JEJ3DseWc51S5LZazMqMFsyO6XXMaWEsE4Rl5Y1tZ5XM0FJu1u3vetn6xqHFCyXtyTlbus/s320/Darwin-harbour-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Meanwhile</b>,
on the other side of the continent, after two months of floating around on a
ship, our little baby Hulamin finally made it to the harbour in Darwin - a
relatively small city in Northern Australia named in honour of the naturalist,
Charles Darwin. The city of Darwin is where the start line of the World Solar
Challenge is situated and has been since its inauguration in 1987. The climate
in Darwin is tropi... Facts are more boring than I thought, lets talk about
cars and things!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Kirsty, the sixth member of our current Australian contingency,
arrived in Darwin earlier this week and took on the challenge of convincing the
Australian authorities that our container full of tools and our solar car was
clean and free of any plants, dust and biltong - silly them, we brought our
biltong with us in our hand luggage. If you are a member of Australian customs,
please be aware that, THAT WAS JUST A JOKE! Seriously though, we have all
watched Border Security and know not to mess with you. Anyway, the process that
is normally followed - after the mountains of paperwork I am certain no one
really understands - is that any container entering Australia has to be
completely unpacked and analysed for any spec of dirt or plant material before
being allowed to enter the country. As you can imagine, after all the Bor</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">der
Security we watch, the team was fairly pedantic to say the least. Let's see
what Kirsty had to say about her experience... </span></div>
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<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjph1ZDaeSvA_P5JzAhyrUV64NZW0UyA8mBwDuMrISjSUCJk2gH4wD9YGNzxKL5YCI0VVeVcMiAFI1WNBXKudMIh2VFWLIZcx3BcZspuSkgzOFjn49IjllY6hHiyvjQTQVzURZeKzWB-4/s1600/IMG-20151002-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjph1ZDaeSvA_P5JzAhyrUV64NZW0UyA8mBwDuMrISjSUCJk2gH4wD9YGNzxKL5YCI0VVeVcMiAFI1WNBXKudMIh2VFWLIZcx3BcZspuSkgzOFjn49IjllY6hHiyvjQTQVzURZeKzWB-4/s1600/IMG-20151002-WA0001.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The unpacking of Hulamin was scheduled for 7:30 am, meaning an
early morning for me. We had no idea what the car was going to look like after
almost 2 months at sea, swaying back and forth. We were just hoping that
everything was still in the same position we had left it, and were dreading the
possibility of boxes tumbling on the car. This was made worse by the horror
stories of smashed solar cars the shipping agents decided to share with me the
day before.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Karma was not on our side unfortunately, and the day did not start
off well. While driving to the wharf, I heard a strange grumbling noise.
I though perhaps after I had transported equipment yesterday, I simply hadn’t
secured the seats back properly. After about 10km, a friendly Aussie started
waving at me…I had a flat tyre. The decision was simple, to either drive on a
flat tyre for the last few km, or to pull over and miss the unpacking…decision
made. Needless to say the trip (albeit very short) was very stressful,
especially with the added annoyance of the GPS continuously falling off the
windscreen and resetting!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5UPoASCzkMx3d0jpn-K_gk6c-eNF5HKWKna9WsoJcIBSGOIT1-UuzqHACFBr31ftz4A3Mrm1-07qjK0RRxcPO-Gj1D6zZANUhGEq1MZzXG1E3CwCPPXHt6EK7QS7xPgZZpp12KEQTNE/s1600/unpacking+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5UPoASCzkMx3d0jpn-K_gk6c-eNF5HKWKna9WsoJcIBSGOIT1-UuzqHACFBr31ftz4A3Mrm1-07qjK0RRxcPO-Gj1D6zZANUhGEq1MZzXG1E3CwCPPXHt6EK7QS7xPgZZpp12KEQTNE/s1600/unpacking+1.png" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally I arrived (mostly on time). The moment that the team had
been waiting for, for 2 months. Opening the container was a truly terrifying
moment. As the lock was cut, and the doors swung open, I am relieved to say
that I could see the car sitting exactly how we left it and all the boxes in
place. What a fantastic moment, and the best Birthday present for Peter.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf5l1lp-bou-D8jo8D1Zwia2yxn1AigcVIpzajOPPMwu7b2mrgfghpUpJp9wE6INB-BWSkzpO8PM37_XH_4dEHTgnK9bxwd7ptN8Rf0dvbCvxiJKT8Ozmpjh70zRFcqVeI-6Y_2BPuMs/s1600/IMG-20151002-WA0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf5l1lp-bou-D8jo8D1Zwia2yxn1AigcVIpzajOPPMwu7b2mrgfghpUpJp9wE6INB-BWSkzpO8PM37_XH_4dEHTgnK9bxwd7ptN8Rf0dvbCvxiJKT8Ozmpjh70zRFcqVeI-6Y_2BPuMs/s1600/IMG-20151002-WA0015.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next step was to unpack the entire container into a warehouse
floor for the customs officials. The 2 port officials and I started the
process. Each fragile box carefully handled, the car gently placed outside the
container on foam blocks. Some boxes so heavy that only Saien can pick them up,
we used a fork lift. It seemed to be over very quickly. The customs inspection
was even quicker. Opened a few boxes, inspected the camping gear, and that was
it! Done. Our over cautious attitude paid off!<br />
Sadly, the whole process had to be started again. To pack everything up and
deliver it to our workshop. Thanks to the assistance from my new mate Glen the
delivery man, we packed everything up onto pallets, wrapped it all up in cling
film, and took it to the workshop. I had to take Hulamin on the back of a
trailer.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dYmaTLWRs-O4NVt1p2cgwJAK2AximntrP4ZSs83PzIwwsCNCv4YdkOX0LpEtjHSTPgagsOC7s49Tn6qN1l0poz2xrNTh_2we6DXgcYJdAvEQfZMuD_tlpNIFGUj8AqwWFSM8J3MBAj4/s1600/20151002_125624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dYmaTLWRs-O4NVt1p2cgwJAK2AximntrP4ZSs83PzIwwsCNCv4YdkOX0LpEtjHSTPgagsOC7s49Tn6qN1l0poz2xrNTh_2we6DXgcYJdAvEQfZMuD_tlpNIFGUj8AqwWFSM8J3MBAj4/s1600/20151002_125624.jpg" /></a></div>
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Hulamin is now asleep safe and sound in the workshop, waiting for the rest of the team to finish their trek from Adelaide to put her back together.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-78464202256207831442015-10-02T02:22:00.000-07:002015-10-02T02:22:03.347-07:00Mary! I'm going to Australia!<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">G'Day Mates!</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5-I_pMbD4THYAQHsMhVxXtWR00vAIqexkDDJQ21W6BiySiwEfyMBfOYI0DGFJYDjNyPD0xikqMruSyLtpX3SxiKZZWFHWiSER5-JtCiEttN8RMTHrGN_CzDpJRbwwyNbZyR7y0FfQrI/s1600/12077357_10153310467436731_851845980_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5-I_pMbD4THYAQHsMhVxXtWR00vAIqexkDDJQ21W6BiySiwEfyMBfOYI0DGFJYDjNyPD0xikqMruSyLtpX3SxiKZZWFHWiSER5-JtCiEttN8RMTHrGN_CzDpJRbwwyNbZyR7y0FfQrI/s320/12077357_10153310467436731_851845980_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It has now been six days since the first five members of the UKZN Solar car team set foot on Australian soil. We are, however, beginning to have major doubts as to whether or not we have landed in the correct country. Yes, the signs at the airport said "Welcome to Adelaide" and everyone keeps referring to us as their "mates", but we have not yet managed to spot a single kangaroo or koala bear. Neither have any of our team members been eaten by a Great White Shark or suffered paralysis from the infamous Brown Snake - rather disappointing if you ask me. Nonetheless, we have arrived in the delightfully beautiful land 'down under' where the only thing more appealing than the scenery are the Tim Tams - a delicious chocolate wafer biscuit of goodness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP312gdKl8d9rRTFUUlU-8_OjEMNT4C71FH2CRNXBgeEYYeTBz6sE6JOUzRSPltkAQIrCc8sGydCkD9RBQ6R-7HtxVqqhXA_F8CdCNIhhsfrCM4crUTN_Jx6e3V19OhiCjodAq-Skvl_g/s1600/65_aust_map_route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP312gdKl8d9rRTFUUlU-8_OjEMNT4C71FH2CRNXBgeEYYeTBz6sE6JOUzRSPltkAQIrCc8sGydCkD9RBQ6R-7HtxVqqhXA_F8CdCNIhhsfrCM4crUTN_Jx6e3V19OhiCjodAq-Skvl_g/s320/65_aust_map_route.jpg" width="320" /></a>In case you do not know this yet, we, the UKZN Solar car project, have entered our new solar car, Hulamin, into the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (WSC) which is a grueling race from Darwin to Adelaide starting on the 18th of October. I'd like to take this opportunity, though, to back up a few notches and describe a few of our experiences so far.<br />
<br />
Our adventure started on the 25th of September when we enjoyed our last South African snacks accompanied by a round of Black Label beers before embarking on our 23 hour long journey to Australia. I know what you are thinking, but no, we did not travel by row boat, the preposterous amount of travel time was a result of a series of connection flights between Durban and the city of Adelaide, where we started our Aussie adventures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCFg3BvjRod3vqlCO7pCg-7ZbXW-HrTP0tSgKdRbIXHOm4nOt4MeYtGUmJKBgoU7TqMnt0rdj1O4enOzuxpAhVG4Z7NdrRbZt1WHLESTqsQUXdVT9_v3-Ic_EtfIysOQhEjEtBqoMr00/s1600/12064422_10153310467506731_1797230595_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCFg3BvjRod3vqlCO7pCg-7ZbXW-HrTP0tSgKdRbIXHOm4nOt4MeYtGUmJKBgoU7TqMnt0rdj1O4enOzuxpAhVG4Z7NdrRbZt1WHLESTqsQUXdVT9_v3-Ic_EtfIysOQhEjEtBqoMr00/s320/12064422_10153310467506731_1797230595_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>For the majority of us, Adelaide was our first Australian experience which meant performing typical "South Africans abroad" behavior was absolutely essential. One of these actions involved the classic GASP! when realising that no, that can of coke is not four rand but instead, FORTY! Another included a dismal attempt at buying tram tickets. I mean, we did manage to buy tickets, but whether or not they were the correct ones, or whether or not we were supposed to validate them, or whether or not we were even meant to buy tickets in the first place are probably questions that will never be answered. Crikey mate!<br />
<br />
A large proportion of the three full days that we had in Adelaide were spent recovering from the seven and a half hours that were brutally snatched from us by the demon commonly known as 'time difference'. By the way, you can undoubtedly add "complaining about jet lag" to the list of typical South Africans abroad behavior.<br />
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As surprising as it may sound, our "holiday" in Australia hasn't been all fun and games. Funnily enough, the reason we have found ourselves at the finish line of the WSC a full month before the race starts is that an adventure like this takes an unbelievable amount of planning - a fact that I think any other team participating in the WSC will confirm. In fact, I would like to try and put it into context for you. Try to imagine how many hours went into planning your last holiday, now take that number, add three hours and then multiply that result by infinity. The number of hours that you have arrived at is the amount of time each of the members of our logistics team have spent in preparation for the race.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCBqRSJgBjZgkyJpj-TznvxHD0piBJiqNXJ7NuQ-8VR7Eg6rVxLDGX0FtHMgitL7NnGmlEdZpyrt6USE8i603TY2h3Lfk0Tj2kOYaf3Y-vXPD37PkPBKYQ1IvBfW3MpyYsZG1Ekm4Qw0/s1600/GOPR9875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCBqRSJgBjZgkyJpj-TznvxHD0piBJiqNXJ7NuQ-8VR7Eg6rVxLDGX0FtHMgitL7NnGmlEdZpyrt6USE8i603TY2h3Lfk0Tj2kOYaf3Y-vXPD37PkPBKYQ1IvBfW3MpyYsZG1Ekm4Qw0/s320/GOPR9875.JPG" width="320" /></a>After much preparation and buying and hiring of gear needed for the race, the five of us left Adelaide and started the 'Great Trek" to Darwin where we will meet the rest of our team, the starting line of the challenge and most importantly, our baby, Hulamin. You may be wondering why we didn't just fly straight to Darwin in the beginning, which does seem like the logical option. The reason for this is not because the plane took a 3000 kilometer wrong turn but instead it gives us a chance to drive the race in reverse. This trip is vital in achieving a finalised and reliable race strategy which is arguably the greatest difference between a good team and a great one. Not only does it give us a feel for the road and the race ahead but it also provides invaluable route data, altitude, weather and many other forms of data, vital in creating the best strategy possible.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIgKIN9LZYZTqPkFIv0vhPyLSPdelnRyTlO4ObHedwfUHWjHDH4dL5Q3GiF0W8z9Ee4eaRhVtkXKZckSXTY_OWdgll-wE5b-0AFVFSkdshv7E1Qtc6ipiNOaJyM1hGg1xRA3dxOqhON8/s1600/G0029919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIgKIN9LZYZTqPkFIv0vhPyLSPdelnRyTlO4ObHedwfUHWjHDH4dL5Q3GiF0W8z9Ee4eaRhVtkXKZckSXTY_OWdgll-wE5b-0AFVFSkdshv7E1Qtc6ipiNOaJyM1hGg1xRA3dxOqhON8/s320/G0029919.JPG" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-ZA">Ultimately, we are having a great time and welcome this team building opportunity with open arms. We have, however, had a few small, lets say, squabbles. Without a doubt the greatest of these being at the realisation that Tim Tams comes in a pack of eleven. That's right, ELEVEN! At present, our road tripping squad is made up of five young men in our twenties - you do the math.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">I think it is time I stopped boring you with my stories, my mom is insisting all the way from South Africa that I get some rest before our next drive to Devil's Marbles tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates of our trip through the outback. Let's hope that my future posts are shorter and more informative, unfortunately I cannot make any promises though. </span>Cya!</div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">P.S. In contrast to popular belief, everything in Australia is actually the right way up. I will understand if you don't believe me, I was as surprised as you are.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490259917260648742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998070038871741505.post-41843613710594765462015-09-28T04:24:00.002-07:002015-10-05T07:49:11.158-07:00Following 14 - Episode 1 - The journey has begun!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Months of preparation, planning and packing has begun to come together as 5 guys from the team have left South Africa for Adelaide! Their job over the next weeks is to rent cars, and get Hulamin and themselves to Darwin to prepare for the start of the race. Exciting times ahead!</div>
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