Solar Car Challenge Event Update 2023-4

Important Race Dates

March 1 - Deadline to file Official Registration Documents and Fees.
(1) Mail the hard copy of the registration documents to: Solar Car Challenge Foundation, 3505 Cassidy Drive, Plano, TX 75023.
(2) Email the digital copy to registration@solarcarchallenge.org
Use a Word or pdf format. Google documents will not be accepted.

June 1 - Deadline to submit your solar car vehicle liability insurance certificate.
This can be emailed to marks@solarcarchallenge.org.

June 15 - Deadline to submit digital copy of Team Scrapbook required by Rule 3.9.
The scrapbook must be in pdf format. [See guidelines below]
Send to scrapbook@solarcarchallenge.org

July 1 - Deadline to submit Team Video required by Rule 3.10. The video must be in mp4 format.  [See guidelines below]
Send to video@solarcarchallenge.org

July 12 - Team Check-in at the DFW Marriott & Golf Club, Fort Worth, Texas
The Team Adviser and Team Captain(s) will be there for registration.

July 12 - All Team Meeting & Drivers Meeting - Ballroom of the DFW Marriott & Golf Club [All persons taking part in the Race must attend the All Team Meeting]


Team Scrapbook Guidelines

Rule 3.9: Scrapbook - As evidence that solar cars are designed and constructed by high school students, teams must maintain a scrapbook showing students working on all phases of the solar car project, including planning, design, CAD, fundraising, building, and testing the solar car. Teams shall submit a digital copy of the scrapbook no later than June 15th. Teams will not submit a hard copy of the scrapbook in 2022 due to COVID Protocol restrictions.

  1. Teams will email a digital copy of their Scrapbook to scrapbook@solarcarchallenge.org no later than June 15th, 2022. A team’s oral presentation score will be penalized for not providing a digital copy of their scrapbook.
  2. The scrapbook must be submitted in a pdf format so that multiple judges can have easy access to the document.
  3. The Scrapbook will be divided into two Sections:
    1. Section One: showing students working on all phases of the solar car project, including the planning, design, CAD, fundraising, building, and testing.
    2. Section Two: showing students design and engineering decisions through both narrative and photographs.

      Engineering decision-making is the cornerstone of your solar car project. The Judges will want to see documentation showing your engineering challenges and how you resolved those issues.

      We understand that your decisions are often limited by budget, resource availability, and time for construction. The Judges will want you to explain these decisions both in your scrapbook as well as during your team’s oral video presentation.
  4. The digital Scrapbook will become the property of the Solar Car Challenge Foundation, and will become part of your official team documentation.

Team Video Presentation Guidelines

Rule 3.10: Video Presentation - Teams shall prepare an video presentation describing their solar car project. The team will have up to 8 minutes to give a full statement about the team’s project. Teams will be graded based on whether the presentation gave a full statement about the team’s project and engineering decisions made, whether all team members participated, whether the presentation was well prepared and rehearsed, whether the team was able to speak without the use of notes, whether the team used visual aids, and whether the team’s digital scrapbook adequately showcases the team’s progress and development of the vehicle. Teams will be awarded up to 20 miles based on the quality and completeness of their video presentation and digital scrapbook. Penalties received during the event cannot affect miles awarded from the Oral Presentation.

  1. Grading Criteria
    1. Did the video presentation give a full statement about the team’s project?
    2. Did the team explain their engineering decisions? For example: battery placement, array design, metal selection, body covering, etc.
    3. Did the team have documentation supporting their engineering decisions?
    4. Did all team members participate? [Every team member needs to speak]
    5. Was the presentation well prepared and rehearsed?
    6. Was the team able to speak without the use of notes?
    7. Did the team use visual aids?
    8. Did the team’s digital scrap book adequately support the team’s video presentation?
    9. Was the video of the oral presentation sent in mp4 format to video@solarcarchallenge.org
  2. Video Guidelines
    1. The video should be an uninterrupted record of the team’s oral presentation. It should be the same as if the team were being videoed in front of a "live" panel of judges.
    2. Teams may use multi-media during their presentation if this media would have been used within their "live" oral presentation. Teams will receive a point reduction if they use professional editing or visual effects within their video.
  3. Teams will be awarded "forever" laps ranging from 0 to 20 laps. Results will be emailed to teams by the Race Director.