Prairie Fire 'Soaks in Rays' and Makes Sunny Showing in Solar Race

North Dakota State University's first-ever solar race car, Prairie Fire, placed fourth of the nine vehicles in the stock car class division in its debut performance, and first among rookie teams. With 25 members on the Sunsetters, the racing team's moniker, Eric Bradley, project manager and president is proud of the innovative ideas he says are unique to their project. He also credited mentor team, University of Minnesota, and some latein-the-game aid from inner-state rival, the University of North Dakota, with valuable support.

Engineering for the car became a team sport and a lesson in cooperation. The race itself is grueling by any standard. It's 2,247 miles along historic Route 66 from Chicago to Claremont, Calif. In 11 days, five drivers rotated in the third heaviest vehicle in the race. Drivers had a hot ride, inside a vehicle made to soak in the sun's rays for power. The energy of the sun was Prairie Fire's sole power. Within the team concept, 16 team members and adviser, Dr. Wayne Reitz from North Dakota State University's mechanical engineering department, accompanied their 2-year-old baby.

They began the process in 1999. According to Reitz, the students did all the work from fund-raising through design, building, testing and finally racing. During the race they were their own troubleshooters. In the first third of the race, the car was not performing as they expected and was using too much energy. Engineers make things make sense and this didn't. The students went through the car, analyzing and rejecting possibilities. The culprits turned out to be brake pads that were not retracting. With the problem solved, they had 30 percent more speed.

Race days were from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drivers sat in the driver's bubble at what Reitz estimated to be about 125- degree F. heat. In the desert, drivers rotated every two hours. An official race observer rode along in one of NDSU's accompanying vans. Sixteen students and Reitz, with four support vehicles made the trip. It's an expensive proposition, with NDSU students having one of the least costly cars at approximately $50,000. The faster cars can cost up to $1 million.

As an engineer, Reitz says the Students learned to be creative and work with a budget. Cheap and free were favorite words. They learned to look for reasonable goals and had good, practical experience, he said. He's pleased there are so many sophomores and juniors interested in the project as well. The race is held every two years and they can prepare for the next adventure. Students came from electrical, mechanical and computer backgrounds with some marketing added to the mix.

Brian Freeman, a junior and mechanical team leader, said Prairie Fire's sturdiness was important. The 1,100-pound car suffered no mechanical breakdowns - a victory in itself. When UND's car was disabled, they donated spare tires, flashers and water to the Prairie Fire team.

They're already looking forward, using knowledge from this pioneer venture. One thing for sure, the next car will be lighter, and though it would be nice, it still won't have air conditioning.