Events
Please e-mail us for event information, directions, or to request a team appearance.
September 2008
Team Mass Meetings
9/9/2008 - Central Campus
8:30 PM, E0305 Business School
9/11/2008 - North Campus
7:00 PM, 1670 CSE
August 2008
08/11 - 08/15: Management Briefing Seminars, Traverse City
July 2008
07/06 - 07/22: North American Solar Challenge
07/06 - 07/09: Race Scrutineering, Cresson MotorSport Ranch, Cresson, TX
07/10 - 07/11: Qualifying, Cresson MotorSport Ranch, Cresson, TX
07/12: Car Display Date, Plano Centre, Plano, TX
07/13: Race Start - Plano, TX
07/15: Stage Start - Neosho, MO
07/18: Stage Start - Sioux Falls, SD
07/20: Stage Start - Winnipeg, MB
07/22: Stage Start - Medicine Hat, AB
07/22: Finish - Calgary, AB
07/23: Award Ceremony - Calgary, AB
April 2008
04/02: IEEE Southeastern Michigan Section Conference - Dearborn, MI
04/19: Upland Hills Earth Day Expo, Oakland University, Rochester MI
January 2008
01/13 - 01/27: North American International Auto Show, COBO Center, Detroit
October 2007
10/21 - 10/28: World Solar Challenge, Australia
August 2007
08/06 - 08/10: Traverse City Management Briefing Seminar, Traverse City
July 2007
07/14: Continuum Unveiling, Power Center, Ann Arbor, 3:00pm
February 2007
02/21: Discovery Channel: FutureCar, 8:00pm ET/PT
January 2007
01/13 - 01/21: North American International Auto Show, Detroit
News
Five-Time National Champions!
Calgary, Alberta — July 22, 2008
The University of Michigan Solar Car Team has crossed the finish line for the 2008 North American Solar Challenge after traveling nearly 2400 miles from Plano, Texas to Calgary, Alberta. The team finished ten hours ahead of its nearest competitors to bring back Michigan's fifth National Championship in nine races.
Our sincerest thanks goes out to all of the team members, sponsors, faculty, friends, family, and team alumni that made this victory possible. The team's success is truly a testament to the dedication of each of its supporters. We greatly appreciate all the supportive comments on our blog and hope you will visit there for more updates as closing ceremonies take place.
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North American Solar Challenge Scrutineering and Qualifying
Cresson, TX — July 2008
Continuum and the team are in Texas, and the team has already passed scrutineering and qualified for the 2008 North American Solar Challenge. After one day completed of the two-day qualifying event, Michigan currently leads the group in contention for the race's pole position. Please visit the blog for the latest race updates!
North American Mock Race
Dallas, TX — June 2008
Today marks the first day of Mock Race. Busy preparing for the 2008 North American Solar Challenge, our team is currently running a mock version of the race route to gain as much experience as possible. The upcoming race will begin just over a month from now and will run 2500 miles from Dallas, Texas to Calgary, Alberta. This long endurance race will take just under 10 days starting on July 13.
As the race season progresses, we will continue to provide updates via our blog. Throughout Mock Race we will be posting daily updates. Please check it out often and feel free to leave us a comment - we enjoy reading these while on the road!
We would like to thank all of those that made this mock race possible. Without the continued support of our sponsors (including apparel, lodging, food, and transportation sponsorships, and of course, financial sponsorships), we would not have been able to run this event. And we are still looking for more sponsors to join us as we compete to uphold the national title! If you are interested, please e-mail us or click on the donate link above.
Go Fast, Go Smooth, Go Blue!
North American Testing Season
Ann Arbor, MI — May 2008
With the arrival of May and the warm weather it brings, the team resumes testing of Continuum for the 2008 North American Solar Challenge. Throughout the winter, engineers and strategists have been collaborating to optimize, redesign, and rebuild parts of Continuum for NASC 2008. With these revisions, Continuum sports many advancements from its form in WSC 2007.
Prior to the start of the North American Solar Challenge on July 13, 2008, the team hopes to complete a rigorous testing schedule designed to test parts, train drivers, and optimize the performance of the vehicle. Please visit our blog for the latest updates from our team members during this testing season.
Thanks to all of those who have supported the team throughout this project, I hope you are looking forward to this summer's race as much as we are
2008 North American International Auto Show
Detroit, MI — January 2008
From January 13 to January 27, we will be in Michigan Hall (PDF). Visit if you are at the Auto Show!
Continuum Finishes 7th in World Solar Challenge
Adelaide, Australia — October 2007
After an incredible comeback, the team is very proud to have finished 7th in the world. Just 7 kilometers into the World Solar Challenge our lead vehicle was cut off by the Stanford Solar Car Team and forced to break quickly. Continuum rear ended our lead vehicle and we were forced to return to the test track and repair the solar car. A combination of preparation and teamwork made it possible for Continuum to get back on the road 24 hours later and finish 7th in the World Solar Challenge. The accident and repairs cost us 10 hours of racing time, but through an amazing feat the Race Crew got Continuum back on the road, passed over 25 other Teams, and crossed the finish line in true Michigan style.
We've always been looking for a different finish than what we ended up with, but we are ultimately very happy with how Continuum performed. To us, the first half of the race demonstrates that we are the best Team in the world while the second half demonstrates that we have the best car in the world. A first place victory almost comes as an empty victory because it doesn't demonstrate how good the Team really is. Having rallied around the crash we were able to show the world how well we face adversity and how well prepared the Team was. As we crossed the finish line there were 25 friends and family members that had made the trip to Australia to watch the race and cheer us on. We were all happy that we could make them proud by completing this race the way that we did.
The World Solar Challenge has left everyone with a desire to continue racing Continuum. We all look forward to participating in the North American Solar Challenge, where we will have the opportunity to show the world what Continuum is truly capable of. None of this would have been possible without the tremendous support of our sponsors including our Platinum sponsors: The University of Michigan, The University of Michigan College of Engineering, BHP Billiton, Ford, and General Motors. We would like to thank all of them and we hope that we have made you proud to be a part of the University of Michigan Solar Car Team!
Go Fast, Go Smooth, Go Blue!
World Solar Challenge
Darwin, Australia — October 2007
After 2 years of hard work the University of Michigan Solar Car Team is ready to compete in the World Solar Challenge. Looking back there are so many things to be proud of. We’ve built upon the Michigan legacy through partnerships, racing strategy, weather forecasting, race logistics, the design, the construction, and the testing of Continuum. Seeing the Team come together even when it seemed impossible to accomplish these goals has been a sight to behold.
With one week left before the race comes to an end we invite you to follow the progress of Continuum across the Outback. The Team begins the 3000 km race on Sunday, October 21st where our biggest competition is expected to be the 3 time defending champion, Nuon. Our concentrator solar system among other new design innovations and technology on Continuum will put us on a level to be competitive with them. In one week we hope to bring back the World Solar Cup to the United States for the first time since General Motors founded the race in 1987!
Updates will be available at our blog and the World Solar Challenge will have a map of the race on their website.
Go Fast, Go Smooth, Go Blue!
Continuum Updates
Ann Arbor, MI — September 2007
With the World Solar Challenge less than 2 months away Continuum is currently in transit to Australia. Several Team members have already arrived in Australia with the rest of the Race Crew to follow over the next week.
Please visit the Teams new blog to find the most up to date information on the Team from Australia. You can also find two new videos from the Unveiling and of Continuum being tested at Dana Test Track on our Multimedia page.
Thank you for all of your support and we hope to make you proud!
Continuum Unveiled!
Ann Arbor, MI — July 2007
The University of Michigan Solar Car Team is proud to have unveiled Continuum on July 14th, 2007. For pictures of our newest entry in the 2007 World Solar Challenge please visit our Multimedia page, where you can find a special edition of SolEx (PDF, 4.9MB), as well. There is also a video available!
Go Fast, Go Smooth, Go Blue!