Michigan Penalized; Minnesota in 1st
5:30 pm: University of Michigan has been assessed a 40 minute penalty due to speeding. The penalty places Minnesota in first place by a half hour, and gives Minnesota the pole position for tomorrow's stage start. Michigan has an opportunity to protest the penalty this evening, and the start order will not be official until tomorrow morning. This website will be updated as more news becomes available.
July 26, 2005
Comments:
Merry Whipple
Now we're REALLY on pins and needles!
Playing by the rules does pay off.
Go, go, go Gophers!
Posted by: Merry Whipple | July 26, 2005 at 06:36 PM
Emily Lewis
Congratulations on your success so far, U of M! My family has been enjoying following the race. The other morning my dad entered the living room and proudly/loudly announced the Borealis's progress to everyone! Good luck tomorrow...go Peter!
Posted by: Emily Lewis | July 26, 2005 at 07:36 PM
Laurie
Thanks for the update -- we're all on the edges of our seat here.
Posted by: Laurie | July 26, 2005 at 08:54 PM
Greg Sallee
Can anyone believe that so many teams are so close in elapsed time, after approximately 2,300 miles of raycing and counting? The simple fact that they made it this far is amazing all by itself.
It's a shame that the race may very well be decided on penalties. However this situation turns out, and no matter what team wins, places second, third, and so on - I hope all of the students that have put their blood, sweat, and tears into these cars and this rayce realize how much they've accomplished and are proud of what they've accomplished. ALL of them!
Posted by: Greg Sallee | July 26, 2005 at 09:12 PM
Lynn Van Lankvelt
Hmmm...sometimes speed limits can be useful. :)
Posted by: Lynn Van Lankvelt | July 26, 2005 at 09:39 PM
dave
rules be rules and fouls have penalties in all sports. So go ahead and petal to the metal (at the speed limit!!) tomorrow. How far/fast can you go on batteries alone? The all around team effort is great to watch.
Posted by: dave | July 26, 2005 at 09:40 PM
Matt Haupert
lookslike they updated the timing page at 8:20PM MDT and at this point the penalties stand. Umn is leading by just over 29 minutes. I can't wait to have anoth unproductive day at work tomorrow. I hope they upgrade the GPS server again, I have a feeling both UMN and UMI fans will be checking very often.
Posted by: Matt Haupert | July 26, 2005 at 09:49 PM
Adam Delwiche
Good luck tomorrow guys and gals. No matter what happens you have a winning solar car. Top 2 finishes in the last 5-6 races (on 3 different cars) is excellent!
Not to mention Aurora II, ^3 and 4: Japan twice, WSC, Sunrayce also with top finishes. Several Best Design Awards also.
Aurora I is really cool looking too!
Posted by: Adam Delwiche | July 26, 2005 at 09:58 PM
Greg Sallee
"Cool Looking" !!! ???
Hey, we only lost to teams that had rayced before, and beat all the other new entries ;)
Posted by: Greg Sallee | July 26, 2005 at 10:15 PM
Jason Halpern
Back on BII, when we were doing our learning walk-around tours of the project's old solar cars, I believe we deemed A1 lovingly, "The Solar Bus." Al Majkrzak does a great impression of him palming the steering knob of his bus sized air-steering wheel along with a nice diesel engine idling noise.
We got love for all of the project's cars. Each has achieved great feats in their time.
Posted by: Jason Halpern | July 26, 2005 at 10:24 PM
Adam Delwiche
No one ever talked about Aurora I when I joined the project. Aurora II-4 were in storage in various locations. (Eventually followed by Borealis) There was like one picture on the website of A1 so it was quite mysterious to me.
They had the reunion thing and Dr. Starr actually had some slides, and it was neat to see images when he did presentations/talks on all of the project's vehicles.
I saw it at Rosemount once when we took mold bases there. I thought it was cool!
Posted by: Adam Delwiche | July 26, 2005 at 10:25 PM
Ben
hey der bill, how much you gonna win the race by? oh about six hours, der bob.
Posted by: Ben | July 26, 2005 at 10:51 PM
Will's Family
Holy Cow!!
It has been a very quiet, solw day in Calgary without any solar racing activities. We decided to hold off until tonight to check the website -Hoh, my gosh!!
Monday morning we watched BIII and the U of
M team leave Caronport, spent approx 10" for a pit-stop in Caronport (Yes---Starbucks among the wheat fields!) Well, it took us 2 1/2 hours to catch the MN caravan in Thompson, SK. They maintained the speed limit until clouds developed while approaching Medicine Hat. (MI apparently arrived in Medicine Hat before the cloud development.)
We are astonished that the race can be so close after over 2,000 miles.
Good luck tomorrow!! We can't wait to see you at the finish. Be safe and FAST :-)
Posted by: Will's Family | July 26, 2005 at 11:15 PM
Photo Mama
HELP! Who do we believe? How long until standings are certain? Why don't they jive on the various pages? Who's in charge of the NASC site? They could learn a thing or two from the amazing UMN updates.
Example:
The "timing updates" NASC page shows MN in second with 50:43:54 total rayce time, but the "daily rayce summary" NASC page lists the same time for MN, but puts them in the first place with Michigan's #2. Michigan is shown in the second place spot with MN's #35 and a time of 51:13:05.
Something's goofy there... I just hope our UMN team and BIII are resting comfortably tonight. It's not the team's worry--you guys just rayce aggressively within the rules tomorrow. Keep doin' what you've been doin' -- this is the most fantastic "spectator sport" I've ever endured via the web.
One more glitchy thing, I don't know when to glue my eyes to the GPS page, since the start time is different on NASC Xcel sheets and NASC web pages. How do I get my "fix" fulfilled?
All of you alums and present team members blogging away with your "insider trading" knowledge from rayces past... any insight as to a reliable source of info from NASC?
Best of luck, sunshine, strategy, teamwork, battery power and everything else you have going for you--Go UMN-SVP! It's your moment to shine.
Thanks for the thrill.
Posted by: Photo Mama | July 26, 2005 at 11:24 PM
Greg Sallee
Per the Main NASC page and also the downloadable Excel sheet showing all the timings, both updated recently tonight, Michigan's penalties are dropped from 40:00 to 4:00. Puts them ahead by 11, nearly 12 minutes.
Did Minnesota contest the 5 minutes tagged during the first few days of the race? If the penalty was given for the same reasons as those that Michigan recently received, which were subsequently dropped... just curious.
Agreed, thanks for the thrills, good luck tomorrow everyone!
Posted by: Greg Sallee | July 26, 2005 at 11:32 PM
Will's Dad
A few short years ago these students were in high school. They have made amazing improvements over Borealis II and have given something great on which future solar teams can build.
Calagry is overcast tonight. We will be there to greet the teams at the Olympic Oval.
Posted by: Will's Dad | July 26, 2005 at 11:36 PM
Joelle
All right, it's gut check time! Keep up the amazing work. My crew and I are all looking forward to following the rayce to it's end tomorrow!!
SOLAR CAR, SOLAR CAR, SOLAR CAR!
Posted by: Joelle | July 27, 2005 at 12:11 AM
Block M
FYI, the Michigan overall penalties were reduced from 45:00 to 4:00 based on overwhelming evidence that the team was doing the speed limit. It is not difficult to maintain 100+ kph average speed when the speed limit on TC-1 is 110 kph. Best of luck to Minnesota tomorrow.
Posted by: Block M | July 27, 2005 at 12:27 AM
TC Lambert
To our friendly and highly respected Big Ten rivals from a Michigan dad:
I heard second- or third-hand that Michigan's original penalty minutes may have been assessed based on the chase car speeding to close up with the solar car now and then, while the solar car was not speeding. That would make the confusion understandable but no less dangerous to Minnesota and Michigan fans who are taking blood pressure medication.
BTW, that was me who made the "Hey Zeus, whole wheat cracker" comment. It was a paraphrase of a line from the TV show "Rescue Me" that seemed to capture the emotion at first seeing that 40 minute penalty announced.
If I don't survive the emotional roller-coaster of this race, let me say before I die that I am proud of and impressed by both Big Ten teams. And I love your blog. I've been reading it to follow the race as much as Michigan's. I'm also proud there has been so little trash talking.
BTW again: Minnesota's time to Medicine Hat was less than Missouri-Rolla's winning time in the 2003 race. And the Austin to Medicine Hat distance is about 75 miles longer than the whole 2003 race route. If not for the rain in Topeka, both Minnesota and Michigan might have finished this race in under 50 hours. Truly amazing.
-TC Lambert (tclambert.com, tclambert@gmail.com)
Posted by: TC Lambert | July 27, 2005 at 01:23 AM
Randall
Just to chime in with how exciting this rayce has been to watch online. I'm a musician and have been following every day's developments with great anticipation. The times/speeds are AMAZING for all of the five leader teams.
The winners of this rayce won't be Michigan or Minnesota. The real winners will be the world -- we're pushing the envelope for renewable energy and the performance you folks are putting on is thrilling. Lance Armstrong is great, but I have been MUCH MORE excited by the NASC. Go, GO, GO!!!
Posted by: Randall | July 27, 2005 at 01:48 AM
Paul Kelsey
Ok, it is 3:00 am and I am wide awake, wound up tighter than a rubber band with anticipation of what is going to happen in no less than five hours from now.
Good luck team!
Posted by: Paul Kelsey | July 27, 2005 at 02:59 AM
Paul Kelsey
Well, since I am awake…
My wife (also a solar car alum) and I have been maintaining an active U of M SVP contact database. It was compiled for the ten year reunion in 2003. I would like to take this opportunity to ask anyone that was not contacted for the reunion or has moved since the reunion to send us your contact information. E-mail it to svp_alumni@mchsi.com . This is particularly important for recent graduates, as you tend to be more transient in the years just after graduation. Mailing address as well as e-mail and phone would be great!
Please be assured that this information is treated as U of M SVP proprietary information and will go no further than the team.
I am going to see if I can go to sleep now…
Posted by: Paul Kelsey | July 27, 2005 at 03:20 AM
ivano
In response to a request from Charles Habermann regarding Sunrayce 95....
Sorry Minnesota, we had no "time-fracture wickets" back in '95 .... but I do remember loosing 28 minutes on the last day of SR95 to you guys while changing out a controller and a few flats (in the pouring rain...)
Go Minnesota - you guys deserve the victory this year.... and get B3 over to WSC in September for a rematch.
Charles - see you at WSC'05 in Sept ?
-iv'no
Posted by: ivano | July 27, 2005 at 07:36 AM
Peter's Family & Fan Club
After a sleepness night we still don't know where things stand for the final leg. This is very hard on the nerves. Whatever happens up there today, we are all cheering for you and wish we could be there to see the exciting finish. Go Gophers!!!!!
Posted by: Peter's Family & Fan Club | July 27, 2005 at 07:45 AM
Peter's Family & Fan Club
After a sleepness night we still don't know where things stand for the final leg. This is very hard on the nerves. Whatever happens up there today, we are all cheering for you and wish we could be there to see the exciting finish. Go Gophers!!!!!
Posted by: Peter's Family & Fan Club | July 27, 2005 at 07:46 AM
July 26, 2005
Michigan Penalized; Minnesota in 1st
5:30 pm: University of Michigan has been assessed a 40 minute penalty due to speeding. The penalty places Minnesota in first place by a half hour, and gives Minnesota the pole position for tomorrow's stage start. Michigan has an opportunity to protest the penalty this evening, and the start order will not be official until tomorrow morning. This website will be updated as more news becomes available.
July 26, 2005 | Permalink
Comments
Jess
Awesome! Good luck on your last day of 'raycing' and if you need inspiration to beat Michigan, just remember that painful football game back in fall of '03. Karissa, Danielle, Andrew, Mandy, Emily, Libby & I are all cheering for you!
Posted by: Jess | July 27, 2005 at 08:29 AM
Bob Meinz
Good golly! The other commentators have said it all I reckon. Do your best. Gopher the gold. Send Valium! From Peter's emotionally exhausted uncle:-)
Posted by: Bob Meinz | July 27, 2005 at 08:55 AM
Charles Habermann
11 minutes... Tricky...
I think it's time we starting thinking about making a sacrifice at the altar of the Ra or Apollo.
Good luck and God-speed Minnesota.
Charles.
Posted by: Charles Habermann | July 27, 2005 at 09:09 AM
Will's Iowa family...the Essick's
What an amazing team!! We've been following the race via the net since the start...and even though we weren't able to catch a glimpse of it in 'action' as we had hoped...we've developed a great pride for it & it's crew!! Congratulations on a great race & best wishes for a fantastic finish!! You deserve it!
Posted by: Will's Iowa family...the Essick's | July 27, 2005 at 10:03 AM