The MSU Solar Car Racing Team is finally making progress toward its goal of racing a solar car. That goal sounds simple, but the team has struggled over the years. However, this past summer the team made a great leap forward as it took a solar-powered vehicle to the Formula Sun Grand Prix in Texas. The vehicle passed thought various scrutineering stages, but at the last stage it could not pass the dynamics scrutineering. “As we were attempting the dynamics tests we encountered problems with the NGM motor controller, namely uncontrolled braking and
acceleration,” says Manila Ounsombath, the business manager for the team and a mechanical engineering junior. “With our best efforts to correct the problem, the team decided the car was not safe to drive the track. However, it was the first time the team had successfully built a car and taken it to a race.”

Ounsombath and others on the team are optimistic about being able to make it to the 2010 North American Solar Challenge race this summer. “We are focusing our attention on recruitment to ensure a strong and large team for the race,” says Ounsombath.

Meanwhile, the team and its solar car appeared in the 2009 MSU Homecoming parade and won the “Best Group” category.

For more information on the solar car racing team, visit http://www.egr.msu.edu/solar.

This photo of MSU’s Solar Car Racing Team was taken at Cresson, Texas, in June 2009 at the Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP). There are currently 25 active members on the team. Pictured here are (left to right): Amar Shah (mechanical engineering junior); Rick Pocklington (MS computer science and engineering ’09); Trevor Mclean (biosystems engineering senior); Ryan Blake (BS mechanical engineering ‘09); Lindsay Karn (elementary education junior); Joel Anderson (electrical engineer master's student); Manila Ounsombath (mechanical engineer junior); Nick Schock (mechanical engineer senior); and Doug Gobeski (BS mechanical engineering ‘08). (Click HERE or on the photo to see larger image.)