Solar Freaks

Hello,

I've made this thread well in advance for the upcoming events in Perth, Victoria and Tasmania. All discussion relevant in this topic should be posted here - preperations leading up to the event, results after the event and further information leading up to the nationals event.

State
-* Tasmanian Model Solar Challenge - 17th October, 2010, New Town High School, New Town, TAS*
- Victorian Model Solar Vehicle Challenge - 16th & 17th October, 2010, Science Works, Melbourne, VIC
- Western Australia Model Solar Car Challenge - 18th & 19th October, 2010, Forrest Place, Perth, WA

*Denotes date change from 16th to 17th of october

Nationals
- Australian International Model Solar Challenge - 27th & 28th November, 2010, Esplanade Reserve, Fremantle, WA

~Edited

W.A are you ready? ...because I certainly am not!

The scrutineers have decided, only cars that comply with the full set of regulations will compete. So if you can't fix up your bulkhead issue, we'll see you next year. Harsh but that is the verdict.

We will be using Marc's national seeding program although if we can find our W.A program we will use it because Marc no offense your seeding formula is WRONG! Not my words. You know I'm a fan. Cars will be racing on lane 1 given that this is the outer lane for seeding.

In regards to testing on Sunday, I'm not sure if it will be available. But bring your car down if you wish, maybe at 2pm. At the moment its held in Forrest Place although there is a huge redevelopment occurring. However I believe the location may be changed in the next few days because there just isn't enough room. But I could be wrong, I haven't seen a birds eyes view. Can anyone from W.A. confirm this given that they go past Forrest Place often. From what I have observed from the car, the actual work being down is beyond what is stated on the council plans.

Anyway from quarter finals onwards it will be the best of two laps instead of the usual one. Stopping procedure will be at the point of the new barrier, however there wont be a stopping distance requirement. So make sure your cars can go around that corner another time. This year we wont have the issue with a mini round robin for schools that have three cars in the top 8. The format of the race will make sure schools race off in the 16 etc. I have no control of the formatting however, I will make sure it is fair.

Apparently our light box is able to measure at 50% however we will be measuring at 100%. For some reason which wont be mentioned.

On a different note. Marc I asked about the track cost. It is very hard to believe because I suggested on building a new one since Western Power may not be organizing the competition anymore. It will be past on to a firm which has a better capability to reach out to the community. The cost of setting up the track is in the 5 figure mark, which freight cost and setting up cost of the national track is under $5000. So there it is. However I strongly believe that building a new track is still the best option. NSW people, can anyone please tell me how much it cost to build the national track, since I remember seeing it somewhere which was quite cheap. Apparently the W.A. track cost around 40k to build it. I seriously don't know where the money goes. A whole years supply of LUNCH? Am I right?

Almost forget. Our W.A cars will be tested for strength via a 2litre milk bottle (100*100mm base). We cannot/ or have the time to make a block at 50*100*100mm to weigh 2kg. Trying to get a material that dense is apparently hard.

Jun

jhg wrote:We will be using Marc's national seeding program although if we can find our W.A program we will use it because Marc no offense your seeding formula is WRONG! Not my words. You know I'm a fan. Cars will be racing on lane 1 given that this is the outer lane for seeding.

Sorry but whoever has said that is mis-informed and hasn't had a good look at things. The formula is based on years of data collected from ACTUAL race times and sunlights on the national track. I can send across the data if you don't believe me.

Marc

jhg wrote:We will be using Marc's national seeding program although if we can find our W.A program we will use it because Marc no offense your seeding formula is WRONG! Not my words. You know I'm a fan. Cars will be racing on lane 1 given that this is the outer lane for seeding.

Clearly these people are uninformed with no technical background, and haven't bothered looking into the seeding spreadsheet in detail to see how it works.

I don't know what formula they will be using, or how they they will be seeding the cars, but i would like to know??

jhg wrote:NSW people, can anyone please tell me how much it cost to build the national track, since I remember seeing it somewhere which was quite cheap

From memory Mark Needom told me the track cost 50K or there about.

TonyB wrote:From memory Mark Needom told me the track cost 50K or there about.

Was it really that much? I could be wrong but I heard from somewhere that it was around 20K - 25K.

I havent seen the invoices but i can definately say im sure its worth more than 25K and closer to 50k, i can remember been told a figure between 40-50K.

If it was only 20K they may as well just build one for each state rather than shipping it around the country 5 times a year.

I knew this would get you guys going.

Apparently it costs 16k to set up our old W.A. track or something. I would have been happy to set it up for 10k. I'm sure there would have been a decent amount that would have went straight into my pocket at the end.

What actually happened to the old WA track? will it be used again?

I believe the track wont ever be used again. Since pulling it out will cost around 16k to set up. The reason for this is because it is bulky since its got table frames to set up, followed by screwing the marine ply into place and the guide channels. Don't forget there's the packing up to do.

jhg wrote:I believe the track wont ever be used again. Since pulling it out will cost around 16k to set up. The reason for this is because it is bulky since its got table frames to set up, followed by screwing the marine ply into place and the guide channels. Don't forget there's the packing up to do.

If that's what it costs I'd come over to WA to set it up for a few hundred dollars plus flight costs. Who is setting up the national track this year and how much are they getting?

Free? Freight apparently isn't much. The crates I saw that hold the track are huge! Cost one ways is close to $2000. Cheap for a heavy load. Apparently were might get a better deal with sending it back to NSW this year.

Michael Richards is coming over to help set it up on Sunday. I will be definitely there to help setup anyway. I don't know what he will get out of it. But I'm sure its a free flight, accommodation etc?

You would take it back when you actually start setting up that old W.A track. For 16k I reckon we could rebuild a new one closer to the ground by recycling most of the major parts.

16K to set it up. Wow Western power is definitely over paying someone. *Cough* Corruption *Cough*.
Ill do it for free too. Just pay my airfairs.

TonyB wrote::shock: 16K to set it up. Wow Western power is definitely over paying someone. *Cough* Corruption *Cough*.
Ill do it for free too. Just pay my airfairs.

Agreed. It would also be good to be over there to experience the WA event.

miseli wrote:Agreed. It would also be good to be over there to experience the WA event.

Why is that? just out of interest haha?

Redlands wrote:Why is that? just out of interest haha?

Yep. Why not. Who would say no to a paid-for holiday to Perth with a bit of solar car thrown in

miseli wrote:Yep. Why not. Who would say no to paid-for holiday to Perth with a bit of solar car thrown in

haha yeah I understand. I'm a bit dissapointed nationals is in WA because it rules out the possibility of an interstate solar car trip.
The trek from Perth to Melbourne for nationals is a good one.

"The US Navy weather site has a 5% chance of exceeding 6mm in the 12 hours from 8am to 8pm Perth time on Monday and Tuesday.

This site is very good at longer range forecasts. I doubt if we will be flooded but it is likely to be very slow racing under lots of cloud." Quote from source X.

Since most of the other states will be having there competition this week or the next, what are your weather forecast? I understand some states may have four seasons in one day! =]

jhg wrote:"The US Navy weather site has a 5% chance of exceeding 6mm in the 12 hours from 8am to 8pm Perth time on Monday and Tuesday.

This site is very good at longer range forecasts. I doubt if we will be flooded but it is likely to be very slow racing under lots of cloud." Quote from source X.

Since most of the other states will be having there competition this week or the next, what are your weather forecast? I understand some states may have four seasons in one day! =]

What's that I hear? Rain and clouds in the west? I didn't think they even existed over there. Have you guys ever had an event in those kind of conditions?

The Tas forecast sounds much the same. Cloudy and a few showers. A bit like last year I suspect. We sure know how to set the wrong date. I think we've had one day in the last 7 state events that I've been involved with where it was more or less sunny all day long.

Marc

jhg wrote:The US Navy weather site has a 5% chance of exceeding 6mm

5%? that means it is highly unlikely the rain will exceed 6mm

Bureau of Meteorology says Monday will be sunny with a max of 28

miseli wrote:Have you guys ever had an event in those kind of conditions?

Yeah it was mostly cloudy in 2007 and 2008.

Redlands wrote:5%? that means it is highly unlikely the rain will exceed 6mm.
Bureau of Meteorology says Monday will be sunny with a max of 28.

This is is true. After reading the second sentence and the mention of floods I had just assumed the 5% to be a typo. Or at least if that wasn't the case, lots of cloud cover.
I too have since looked at the weather reports for Perth and I don't think you guys have anything to worry about. 28 and sunny. Please.
In Hobart we have showers with a max of 13 forecast for Saturday. Possible snow on the mountain. Fun times.