Video: Tour de Sol 1985

Dominic de Vries contributed this video of the world's first solar race which took place in 1985 across Switzerland.

Video: Raedthuys Solar Team WSC 2005

Erik Hoogma contributed this video documentary of the Raedthuys Solar Team participating in the 2005 Panasonic World Solar Challenge.

Photos: WSC 1999 with Rolla - Packing the car - Part 1 of 17

After Sunrayce 99, I wanted to experience World Solar Challenge. I contacted all the North American teams that were going to World Solar Challenge asking if any of them could use an extra team member and University of Missouri - Rolla welcomed me as their guest team member.

Click photo to enlarge:

Last drive in Missouri before World Solar Challenge

Team garage

Shipping box

Solar car entering shipping box

Rolla shipped one of their team members with the solar car. ;-) A team member strapping in the solar car.

Telekinesis was amazing. ;-) Lifting shipping box to put on the flat bed trailer. Printed on shirt: "If you want it, you've got to believe!"

Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: WSC 1999 with Rolla - Off to FedEx - Part 2 of 17

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The solar car was in the shipping box and loaded on the flat bed trailer

Off loading the solar car shipping box at the FedEx airport terminal in Missouri

Walking the box

Shipping label

All wrapped up and off to Australia

Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: WSC 1999 with Rolla - Hanging out in Sydney - Part 3 of 17

We arrived in Sydney a couple of days before the solar car, so we explored Sydney.

Click photos to enlarge:

Sydney has a Monorail

Monorail station

Sydney boat tour

Sydney Opera House

Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: WSC 1999 with Rolla - The Solar Car Arrived in Sydney - Part 4 of 17

Click photos to enlarge:

The solar car arrived

Packing the truck

All packed

Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: WSC 1999 with Rolla - North on Stuart Highway - Part 5 of 17

From Sydney, we drove to Adelaide and then surveyed Stuart highway from Adelaide to Darwin.

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Views of Stuart highway

Passed by a two trailer fuel truck, also known as a road train. Driving on the left side of the road was the right side in Australia.


We were happy to see this roadhouse. By the time we arrived here, the RV was running on empty.




At a camp grounds we stayed at, there was a family of Geese. Whenever I got too close, the male Goose would go on the attack.

RV shadow on the Outback

Moving earth hauling equipment. There was a lead car with a flagman which drove ahead and flagged everyone to the side of the road to allow the over-sized truck through.




Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: WSC 1999 with Rolla - At the Darwin race track - Part 6 of 17

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Rolla on the Darwin race track

If you don't brake for kangaroos, will they brake for you? ;-)

Sunspeed Singapore Polytech (Singapore)

Futura (Italy)

Foreground: University of Missouri - Rolla (USA)
Background: Futura (Italy)

Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: WSC 1999 with Rolla - Qualifiers - Day 1 of 2 - Part 7 of 17

The qualifying process began.

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University of Waterloo (Canada)

University of Missouri - Rolla (USA)

Lake Tuggeranong College (Australia)

Jona Sun (Japan)

Their solar car was made of renewable and recyclable materials. The front nose of the car was made of Balsa wood. The top body (solar array) wasn't on the car.

Aoyama Gakuin (Japan)

Shiga SPD Polytech College (Japan)

Osaka Sangyo University (Japan)

Queen's University (Canada)

Tokai Shoyo High School (Japan)

Tamagawa Solar Challengers (Japan)

Solar Motions (USA)

A unique feature of this solar car were the vertical wings/sails. The team interpreted the rules to include wind as an indirect form of solar power. Their angle was adjustable from inside the solar car.

Aurora (Australia)

Southbank University of ESC (UK)

Helio Det (Germany)

A unique feature of this solar car was that the car can be disassembled and shipped in large suitcases.

Futura (Italy)

Dripstone High School (Australia)

Sunspeed Singapore Polytech (Singapore)

University of New South Wales (Australia)

University of Queensland (Australia)

University of Minnesota (USA)

Junkyard (Japan)
This solar car was the shortest in length and smallest solar car in this event.

University of Michigan (USA)

Kanazawa Institute of Technology (Japan)

Annesley College (Australia)

Southern Cross Catholic College (Australia)

Central Queensland University (Australia)

Club Solar Car (Denmark)

Kormilda College (Australia)

Winston Solar Car Team (USA)

A dragonfly

Newburgh Sol Machine (USA)

Solar Stealth (USA)

MIT (USA)

SA Solar Car Consortium (Australia)

Mannum High School (Australia)

This team's solar car turned out to be a little bit too long. So, in order to qualify, they sawed off the back end of their solar car.

Photos by Adrian Silveanu