Photos: Solar challenge photos by Adrian Silveanu

NASC 2005 - Volunteered as an Observer for the North American Solar Challenge, which started in Austin, Texas, USA and ended in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

ASC 2003 - Volunteered as an Observer for the American Solar Challenge, which started in Chicago, Illinois, USA, went along Route 66 and ended in Clairmont, California, USA.

ASC 2001 Start - Saw the start of the American Solar Challenge, which started in Chicago, Illinois, USA, went along Route 66 and ended in Clairmont, California, USA.

ASC Test Drive Summer 2000 - Saw the start of the American Solar Challenge test drive of the 2001 route, which started in Chicago, Illinois, USA, went along Route 66 and ended in Clairmont, California, USA.

WSC 1999 with Rolla - Participated as a guest with the University of Missouri - Rolla Solar Car Team. The World Solar Challenge started in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia and finished in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Sunrayce 99 - Competed as a member of the Purdue Solar Racing Club. The event started in Washington D.C., USA and finished in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Mini Solar Challenge - Spring 1998 - Volunteered as an Observer for the event. It started in West Virginia, USA and ended in Indiana, USA.

Photos: Sunrayce 99 - Part 1 of 4 - Making of the 1999 Purdue Solar Car

The chassis

The chassis with the solar array substrate

Our team's computer graphics designer finishing the body molds

Chassis, solar array substrate and front body

Some of the solar array panels

This was what I wore in our clean room. Initially, we experimented with using a conformal coating for the solar array. The conformal coating was similar to clear coat paint. Due to technical issues and time constraints, we ended up using Tefzel. Tefzel was a clear film and it also required a separate clear thin film adhesive. The main advantages of Tefzel were relatively easy to apply, consistent thickness, and doesn't cause cancer in animals. I was the team's solar array project manager.


Initially, we used a room in one of the residence halls, but we were allowed to used it for a limited period of time. So we needed to continue our work elsewhere. We ended up creating a clean room using plastic sheets, a furnace filter, box fan and duct tape. I became the bubble boy.


Inside the bubble clean room. I created a wide squeegee to apply the clear thin film adhesive to the Tefzel and then both of them to the solar panel.


Our team's president schmoozing with the engineering department. Our main driver enjoying the scenery.

A test drive

The front body primed and sanded

The front body finished

Our team's vice-president using the CNC to mill the hub

Unveiling our solar car:










Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: Sunrayce 99 - Part 2 of 4 - At the Qualifiers

Arriving at the qualifiers

Arriving at the qualifiers

Being a solar car driver was tiresome

Entering the turning radius test

The first time we did this test, our turning radius turned out to be too large. After adjusting our steering linkages, our driver completed the test in record time.

The brake test

We had a problem

Both front tires were blown. This was due to tire pressure and our driver still needed to get used to the solar car's brakes.

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Stanford University / University of California - Berkeley

University of Virginia

Western Michigan University

United States Military Academy

During the brake test, University of Alberta had a suspension failure

First pass of scrutineering. There was still work to be done.

We finally passed the brake test

Messiah College

Northwestern University

University of Arizona

Northern New Mexico Community College

McGill University

University of Alberta

Texas A&M University

Virginia Western Community College

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Follow the sun

Solar Car Traffic - Purdue University and University of New Orleans

Photos by Adrian Silveanu