Solar Storms Solar Car Team

July 16, 2026

The first day of scrutineering started bright and early as the team headed to the track, ready to tackle the inspection stations. The first stop was the braking test and solar storms passed! Next came the slalom course, where the team faced its first setback after the third of seven drivers accidentally broke the windshield off, preventing the car from completing the station. Fortunately, the team had packed extra windshield material for the trip, allowing them to begin replacing it right away. After regrouping, the team moved on and successfully passed the electrical inspection before taking on well-earned lunch break. The afternoon brought more success with a pass on the turn and tilt test, followed by the mechanical inspection. Although the team didn’t pass this station; the fixes were minor requiring only a few small additions including a cup holder. With time running out, the team packed up for the day, headed back to the house to shower, and attended the Solar Car Challenge banquet that evening. It was great to see teams from across the country, though it was easy to see everyone was running on very little sleep. After leaving the car secured in the pits, the team returned to the house, cooled off in the pool and enjoyed some much-needed downtime before another busy day at the track.