Solar Phantom VI Cruises Historic Route 66

After more than a year in development, the Rose-Hulman Solar Phantom team finally got to see the Solar Phantom VI in action, when they performed road testing on the car last week.

"After a year and a half of grueling design work and modeling, it's an awesome experience to finally be out on the road," said Jake McKeegan, Chief Operations Officer of the team. "As the upcoming race draws near, solar car fever is rapidly spreading throughout the team."

The team treated the test run like a mock race, setting the car up in racing conditions. The test run began in Chicago and traveled along Historic Route 66 through Springfield, Illinois, St. Louis, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, before ending in Oklahoma City, a distance of nearly 900 miles. The route the team traveled is the same that they will follow during this year's American Solar Challenge.

The car was driven primarily by Don Harrington, junior, Chris Nicholson, junior, and Patrick Duffy, senior. "The car performed even better than we expected," Harrington said. "We are the defending champions of the Formula Sun Competition, and we're up to the challenge of defending our title."

The Solar Phantom VI now has accumulated over 1000 miles since its unveiling during a special campus ceremony on April 5. Thirty-seven television networks across the country covered the unveiling.

The team's first competition this year will be when they defend their Formula Sun Grand Prix Title at Heartland Park Raceway in Topeka, Kansas this May. Later that month, they will participate in Indianapolis 500 ceremonies, where they will circle the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The American Solar Challenge is scheduled for July 15-25 from Chicago to Los Angeles, California, along Historic Route 66. An estimated 40 cars are expected to enter the competition this year.

- Story courtesy of The Rose Thorn

View photos from the Spring Break Trip.

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