I have been distracted from my build working with an extraordinary team of high school girls who petitioned the school board and Florida Gulf Coast University, to have a second, all girls, team to challenge for the 2016 Sun Challenge. It's a build your own (starter kit provided) solar go kart race open to high school engineering programs throughout the state.
Yesterday was our race and we pulled down a 2nd and a 3rd for the two races out of 16 challengers. The girls took a two minute penalty for coming into the pit too fast which shut up every person thinking they didn't have the guts to push the kart!
Top speed, 33 mph!
Over the last few months we had a great time teaching the girls some metal working skills, including welding. They learned about gear ratios, tire diameters, braking systems, wiring, and of course, solar energy!
I learned a little bit about video editing... And patience!
If you have a few minutes, check out our video and give us a thumbs up! The girls deserve it!
http://youtu.be/vXg-9Bno264
My daughter and the Solar go kart challenge
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RRoller123
- Patron 2020
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Re: My daughter and the Solar go kart challenge
That is just so incredible! Good for you, citizen volunteerism is alive and well in So Flo! Well done.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
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FiatMac
- Posts: 290
- Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:14 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
- Location: Salisbury, North Carolina
Re: My daughter and the Solar go kart challenge
Great job! 
Stan McConnell
Retired Mechanical Engineer
Salisbury, North Carolina
82 2000 Spider (driving)
78 124 Spider on the rotisserie
76 124 Spider parts car or possible Lemons racer
83 parts car
Retired Mechanical Engineer
Salisbury, North Carolina
82 2000 Spider (driving)
78 124 Spider on the rotisserie
76 124 Spider parts car or possible Lemons racer
83 parts car
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mscafide
- Posts: 330
- Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:59 pm
- Your car is a: 1974 124 Spider
- Location: Pompano Beach, Florida
Re: My daughter and the Solar go kart challenge
That was wonderful.
Girls can do science and math just like the guys (frequently better) and many can drive better too!
Thank you.
Girls can do science and math just like the guys (frequently better) and many can drive better too!
Thank you.
1974 124 Spider
1964 500 D
2012 500 Sport
1948 Ford 8N tractor (restored (don't drink and ebay))
1964 500 D
2012 500 Sport
1948 Ford 8N tractor (restored (don't drink and ebay))
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spider2081
- Patron 2024
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Re: My daughter and the Solar go kart challenge
That must have been fun. Thanks for sharing
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klweimer
- Posts: 550
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- Location: Arvada, Colorado
Re: My daughter and the Solar go kart challenge
It's great to see girls (or boys for that matter) interested in technology and engineering. I'm probably biased (I'm an engineer) but I think we need kids going into technical areas if we don't want to become a country of burger flippers and internet bloggers, generating nothing of substance. OK, I'll put away my soapbox.
Kirk
Kirk
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phaetn
- Patron 2018
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Re: My daughter and the Solar go kart challenge
So awesome! She passed other carts like they were standing still!
Congrats for the finish and inspiring girls to stick with S-T-E-M!
Cheers,
phaetn
Congrats for the finish and inspiring girls to stick with S-T-E-M!
Cheers,
phaetn
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SoFlaFiat
Re: My daughter and the Solar go kart challenge
Thanks gang!
It has been an amazing time and, yes! We are very lucky to have a great school district and a lot of forward thinking teachers! STEM is huge in the district and this type of competition helps gain interest in the fields!!
We are all looking forward to next year already!!
It has been an amazing time and, yes! We are very lucky to have a great school district and a lot of forward thinking teachers! STEM is huge in the district and this type of competition helps gain interest in the fields!!
We are all looking forward to next year already!!