Rules

Each team is responsible for designing and building a solar powered race car. The kit your team purchases will contain a motor and solar panel; the chassis, wheels and transmission are made from any other materials that you choose. Cars are judged on design, innovation and performance. Each team's effort is focused toward the final event – a 20 meter, wire-guided sprint race where the best design and construction techniques will pay off with the win!!

Car Parameters

The dimensions of a Junior Solar Sprint car cannot exceed:

• 30 cm. in width
• 60 cm. in length
• 30 cm in height

The car must have a three dimensional body. No open frame bodies or chassis are permitted. Teams will not be allowed to bolt the axles and wheels to the solar cell. Each side must have a space big enough for a 3cm x 3cm number decal which will be provided by the race committee.

Each entry begins construction with a kit containing:

• a 3V photovoltaic panel
  
• a motor matched to the PV panel

The solar panel may not be modified. The motor may not be modified (i.e. rewound, lightened, etc.). The specific motor supplied with the panel (in the kit) must be used. If a replacement motor is needed, it must be purchased from the company who supplied the panel. One solar cell and motor are permitted per car. Any modification to the solar panel or motor will result in disqualification.

At least one wheel must be driven by the motor.

Construction

Each team, on their own, will provide the additional parts needed for the construction of the car:

• wheels
• car body/chassis
• axles
• wiring
• connectors
• gears
• brackets

Individual decals may be affixed, and the body may be decorated at the teams discretion, but a 3 cm. square space must be left free on each side and the bottom for the Sprint decal number.

The material for the body of the car can be any type of light material.

Steering

An eyelet (see examples below) must be attached to the bottom front of the car. A guide wire, 1 cm. from the surface of the track, will go through the eyelet, serve as the steering mechanism, and keep the car in its lane. The vehicle must be easily removable from the guide wire, without disconnecting the guide wire. This is the only allowable method of steering the car. No radio control is permitted in Junior Solar Sprint cars. Lane changing/crossing will result in disqualification.

Embed the eyelet in the bottom of your car near the front (or use two eyelets--one near the front and one near the rear). The guide wire will pass through the eyelet to keep your car in its lane.

Front of Car (End View)

The vehicle must be safe to contestants and spectators (i.e. no sharp edges, projectiles, etc). Any energy-enhancing devices, like mirrors, must be attached to the vehicle.

Failure to meet these expectations will result in disqualification.

Race Parameters

The Track:
The racetrack is 20 meters long and 60 centimeters wide
The track is set up on a hard, flat, smooth surface such as a tennis court. For the Florida Regional competition, a non-slick vinyl surface will be used for the track lanes.

The Starting Line:

• One team member will hold a piece of cardboard or other shading device over the panel, and remove it when the start signal is given.
  
• Team members may not push a vehicle to start it.
  
• Team members may not accompany the vehicle in its lane during the race.

During the Heat:

• One team member may free the vehicle from wire binding or track imperfections should such problems occur.
  
• One team member may make repairs if a mechanical or electrical failure occurs.
  
• Team members may not push the vehicle or give any other physical assistance.
  
• Team members may not change the vehicle's mechanical or electrical characteristics (e.g. shift a transmission) after the start of the heat.

The Finish Line:

• One team member must be present at the finish line to stop the vehicle, preventing any damage to it.
  
• The vehicle must remain in its lane at the finish line until the order of the race vehicles has been established.

Failure to meet these expectations will result in disqualification.