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| The Tour de Sol competition is the oldest solar car event in the world. International competitors wind through four European countries in very demanding elevations for seven days, amassing points for arriving on time each noon and afternoon. The event promotes electric as well as solar vehicles, substantially increasing the number of vehicles in the competition (104 in all). While the electric vehicles are allowed to recharge during the midday breaks, the experimental classes must collect only from their solar panels. Throughout the race, and especially at the stopping points, there are large crowds on hand with substantial media coverage. |
| Awards in the form of cash prizes are provided daily for a number of
feats, including the first three arrivals in each class, overall first,
and greatest bonus distance for the day. The only other experimental class
car from the United States in the 1991 competition was from MIT.
The Tour de Sol competition was an altogether different experience for the Konawaena team than the World Solar Challenge in Australia. The car had been built for long straight-aways of the outback, and was now expected to perform on narrow, winding European roads with relatively heavy traffic. |
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| Several modifications were quickly completed to help match the car to the course. An unforeseen advantage, however, was the cars extremely lightweight design; this provided considerable energy savings in climbing the ubiquitous Swiss hills. The Konawaena car captured several of the daily cash prizes, including 2nd overall on the fourth day of the competition. The team and car performed exceedingly well and was in fact vying for second place in its class behind Michael Trykowski of Germany in the Worlds Fastest Solar Car when, on the fifth day of competition, it ran off the road and snapped the main axle. Because of the camaraderie that had developed between the Konawaena team and the other competitors, many University team members helped the Hawaii team repair the car overnight. This allowed the Konawaena team to continue their run and finish the course. Again, the team attracted significant press and television coverage, being the only high school team involved, and having only female drivers. |
