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Introduction to Solar BikeRayce


What Is Solar BikeRayce?
Solar BikeRayce USA is an annual, international closed-course "rayce" held in Topeka, Kansas. Teams compete with vehicles that are powered either partially or entirely by solar power. These pedaled and non-pedaled, solar-assisted vehicles are referred to as "Solar Bikes".

The objectives of the event are to stimulate interest in science and technology and to raise awareness of alternative energy sources. More information about the event can be found at http://www.solarbike.org.

Who Organizes the Event?
The event is held as part of the Formula Sun Education Foundation. Information about the foundation can be found at http://foundation.formulasun.org.

Solar BikeRayce USA is sponsored by the Kansas Corporation Commission, New Resources Group, and the Mid-America Renewable Energy Technology (MARET) Center at Crowder College in Neosho Missouri.

Solar BikeRayce can be contacted by email at hq@solarbike.org.

Who Can Enter?
Teams of all ages, from schools or private groups can enter. Depending on the team members and the type of bike built, teams enter one of the following categories and classes:

Categories:
1. High School (15-18 years): Women's and Men's/Mixed. This category includes high schools, technical schools and other secondary educational institutions.
2. Adult (19-49): Women's and Men's/Mixed
3. Senior (50 +): Women's and Men's/Mixed

Classes:
A Class: Stock Solar Cycle (a pedal bike)
B Class: Modified Solar Cycle (no frame or fairing restrictions)
S Class: Solar Vehicle (no pedals)
X Class: Open Class (pedals are allowed)
Further explanations of the technical differences among these classes can be found in the Regulations.

How do I Enter a Team?
If you are considering entering a team, please let SBR Headquarters know as soon as possible (by phone, fax, email, or postal mail) so your team can be included in announcements and mailings. Send a mailing address, telephone number, and email address.

In order to officially register a team for Solar BikeRayce, you must submit a completed entry form and pay the appropriate entry fee as specified in the Regulations. Then entry deadline is May 1st, 2004. Details regarding the full registration process and the information required can be found at http://www.solarbike.org/event/sbr2004/teams/entry.html.

Is there a newsletter or an email list?
Yes! A newsletter is published for all of the Formula Sun Events, including Solar BikeRayce. The newsletter is available online as well as through postal mail. Past newsletters can be found at http://www.formulasun.org/newsletter/index.html. Teams are highly encouraged to read the newsletter as official announcements about schedules and regulations are published in it.

There is also an electronic mailing list for teams and officials to ask questions and post announcements. Information about how to subscribe or read archived messages can be found at http://www.solarbike.org/listserve.html. Teams are highly encouraged to have at least one member subscribe to the list because announcements from Headquarters are posted to it.

Where can I find the Rules and Regulations?
The Official Regulations can be found online at http://www.solarbike.org/event/sbr2004/tech/index.html. If you have questions about the Regulations, please email hq@solarbike.org.

When and Where is the event held?
Solar BikeRayce USA is usually held on a weekend in May in Topeka, Kansas.

SBR2004 will be held in May in Topeka, Kansas at Heartland Park Topeka. Heartland Park is a race course located just south of Topeka near Forbes Field. SBR Raycing will be on a 1.8 mile closed track.

The schedule over the 3 days is as follows:
Day 1: Registration & Scrutineering
Day 2: Registration, Scrutineering and the Sprint Competition
Day 3: Raycing for all classes, Awards Ceremony
Where can I find information about previous rayce teams and results?
The Solar BikeRayce website provides a listing of results for recent rayces, as well as a some photos. These can be found at http://www.solarbike.org/aboutsbr/history/index.html.

How Fast do the Bikes go?
The fastest vehicles at Solar BikeRayce 2001 exhibited the following average times and speeds on a 1.8 mile track:

A Class: 34 laps in 2 hrs: 30 mins: 29 sec (4.4 minutes/lap or 24.5 mph)
B Class: 34 laps in 2 hrs: 26 mins: 32 sec (4.3 minutes/lap or 25 mph)
X Class: 16 laps in 3 hrs: 16 mins: 08 sec (5.7 minutes/lap or 19 mph)
S Class: 34 laps in 2 hrs: 34 mins: 32 sec (4.5 minutes/lap or 24 mph)
For more detailed results, and a better look at the spread of the bike speeds, check out http://www.solarbike.org/aboutsbr/history/index.html.

BUILDING A SOLAR BIKE
In addition to regular bike components, solar bikes have electric motors, motor controllers, batteries, and solar panels. Additional introductory information about solar bike construction and components can be found in the Technical section of the website. Specific parameters for each class of bike in Solar BikeRayce are found in the Regulations.

Solar Bike Workshops are a good way to obtain an overall understanding of the design and construction of a solar bike. The workshops are conducted by Solar BikeRayce staff and generally are held over a 2-day period. During the workshop, the instructors will demonstrate solar bike construction using materials that they bring to the class. This is an excellent opportunity for teachers and students to gain a better insight into using solar energy and building a competition-level vehicle. For more information, please see the web page on Workshops.




 
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Solar BikeRayce is a Formula Sun Event and is sponsored by:
Crowder College, The Kansas Corporation Commission, and New Resources Group.
All documents on this World Wide Web site and related graphics are copyright protected. All graphics are trademarked. Copyright 2000-2004 Formula Sun Education Foundation. All rights reserved. All other trademarks or registered trademarks belong to their respective holders. The information within is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of the foundation.