Race+Regulations

Junior Solar Sprint Rules and Regulations for 2009

The Race Track:

1. The race lane is 60 cm wide and 20 meters long. The track is made of rubber gasket over a hard flat surface such as an asphalt tennis court or running track. The track can be oriented in any direction (e.g. north-south, east-west).

2. The taught wire will be located in the center of the lane that is intended only to guide the cars on the track and may not be able to direct a car that has bad alignment. The wire will be no higher than 1.5 cm above the track surface. The wire will be small diameter line, such as fishing line (e.g. 60# test monofilament). There will be no free end on the guide wire, thus the cars must be hooked onto the wire, not strung onto it.

Conduct of the Race:

1. Students must design and build their own bearing systems. Manufactured or purchased bearings will not be allowed. 2. All vehicles must be pre-registered by appointed deadline, April 20, 2009. Each team must present their vehicle to the judges for vehicle inspection and assignment of vehicle number at the inspection desk after the school registration at the Final Event. 3. Each vehicle will have two opportunities to race before you may be eliminated from competition. 4. Only two members of the race team will be allowed on the track during the race: the Captain at the starting line and another team member at the finish line. 5. Each vehicle must have an assigned student team captain. No student shall be assigned team captain to more than one vehicle. No team shall consist of more than four students, but must have at least two. 6. The vehicle will start from behind the starting line with all wheels touching the track. The solar panel will be covered by an opaque sheet (to block the sunlight), which is held above the panel. Once connected to the power source, the vehicle can not be touched by the sheet or any member of the team. Once every team captain indicates that they are ready, the line judge will give the signal to start the race and the sheet will be removed so the panel will be exposed to the sunlight. Team Captains must be able to switch to battery packs when told to do so by the starting judge and connect the batteries to the motor within 5 seconds. 7. There will be a 5 minute time limit, starting from the end of the previous race to prepare your vehicle to race in your lane. This should be sufficient time to attach the vehicle to the guide wire or make any little alterations. The race will start at the end of this time limit regardless of whether your vehicle is ready to compete. 8. Once the race has begun, team members are not allowed to touch their vehicle or be on the race lanes until the judges have determined the heat completed. Pushing the vehicle after the race has begun may result in disqualification or a re-run of the race. 9. Any car that leaves its lane will be disqualified from the heat in question. However, the offending vehicle may compete in its second trial if not having done so already. If the car leaving its lane interferes with any other cars, those cars whose run was interfered with will be allowed an additional opportunity to run. 10. Loss of payload during a race will result in disqualification from the heat in question. However, the offending vehicle may compete in its second trial if not having done so already. If the loss of payload interferes with any other cars whose run was interfered with, those cars will be allowed an additional opportunity to run. 11. Winners of a heat will be the first vehicle to cross the finish line or the vehicle to travel the furthest down the track and will automatically advance to the semi-finals. In the event of a dead heat the finish line judges may determine multiple winners and admit additional cars to advance. It will be left up to the race coordinators to determine the actual number of cars that will advance and a race-off for the remaining spots in the semi-finals is possible. 12. Challenges or protest must be made before the race coordinator begins the next heat. All challenges must come from the team members who are actively competing accompanied by the lead teacher. Decisions of the race judges are final. 13. Awards will be given for speed, creativity and technical merit. 14. A “Repair Shop” table will be available for emergency repairs that may arise during the event. Practice times will be available before the competition and between heats. 15. Teams will be notified of their racing order via the scoreboard. If a vehicle is not ready in sufficient time, it will be disqualified for that particular race. The lane assignment and racing is determined by the judges and may not be altered. School Registration forms must be completed and mailed by April 20, 2009. Team Registration forms must be fully completed and mailed by April 20, 2008. Those who register late may not be allowed to compete.