News Releases: Iowa State University

QUICK LINKS
Today's News
News releases
ISU homepage

NEWS RELEASE

07-31-01

Contacts:
Nick Mohr, Team PrISUm, (515) 451-5630
Skip Derra, News Service, (515) 294-4917

EVENT HONORS IOWA STATE'S SOLAR CAR TEAM

AMES, Iowa -- A "Welcome Back Home" celebration for the Iowa State solar car team, Team PrISUm, will be Wednesday (Aug. 1), 3-5 p.m., at the team's garage on the east end of Sweeney Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

The ISU solar car team recently raced their PrISUm Odyssey solar car in the American Solar Challenge, the longest solar car race ever attempted. The ISU team finished 16th in a field of 30 cars, completing the 2,300-mile Chicago to Los Angeles race in 92 hours and 39 minutes. The University of Michigan won the race with a total elapsed time of 56 hours, 10 minutes and 46 seconds.

Along the way the team picked up several awards including a Teamwork Award for the second stage of the race (Rolla, Mo., to Barstow, Calif.), an Artistic Design Award for the design and paint job of the car, and a third place award in Engineering Innovation for its use of advanced battery technology.

"We are pleased with our performance in the American Solar Challenge," said Nick Mohr, director of Team PrISUm. "We came on strong and raced with the top teams in the second half of the race."

PrISUm Odyssey is the sixth solar car built by Iowa State students.

-30-

Editors:
Reporters are welcome to take part in the Welcome Back Home event for the ISU solar car team. Team PrISUm's garage is located on the southeast end of Sweeney Hall, across the street from the ISU water tower.