The
Wenatchee World's headline news story covered the solar drag race in Wenatchee. Included with the news story is a
3 minute video of the 2008 event. It was
unclear if there was even going to be a race due to the heavy cloud cover. Although the racers were slower last year,
it turns out there was still enough sun to hold a competitive event.
This year's event was successful because of the hard work put in by South Whidbey High School, Republic Middle/High
School, Wenatchee High School and Brook Solar's
Photon Phantom teams. Chehalis High School had assembled a solar array using the solar cells donated by REC Silicon,
but did not complete their race frame in time to compete in this year's event. Chehalis, Republic and Wenatchee
high schools all plan to have new light-weight modules made from the REC silicon cells ready to go for the race
in 2009.
Brook Solar's Team Photon Phantom,
Wenatchee High School and Republic Middle and High School teams all put on a great show! South Whidbey Island
won the unlimited division and Wenatchee High School won the high school division.
Click here to see detailed results of the 2008 race.
Dr. Andy Frank, a distinguished professor from the University of California at Davis,
was on hand to pass out the awards at the 2008 event. Dr. Frank is the world leader in the development of plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles. It was an honor having him on hand to officiate the 2008 Solar Drag Race.
South Whidbey High School chose to compete in the unlimited division and successfully
defended their title at the Fourth Annual Solar Drag Race that was held in 2008. Whidbey chose to compete in the
unlimited division because their open circuit voltages were greater than 50 volts and their solar
racer was worth more than $5,000.
Brooks Solar's Team Photon Phantom placed second in the unlimited division. It would have
been interesting to see if the race results would have been different had there been full sun.
Wenatchee High School won the high school division. Republic Middle/High School
competed well this year, overcoming technical difficulties with relays catching fire.