Caleb Smith, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering at Florida Polytechnic University, pulls over for a pit stop during the Formula Sun Grand Prix in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Thursday, July 18. The University’s Phoenix Racing team placed seventh in their first-ever student-built solar racecar, Spark Mk1, outperforming teams from across the country.
The Phoenix Racing team took its inaugural solar competition racecar onto the track in Kentucky last week and began speeding down a path toward Florida Polytechnic University history.
The team’s debut in the annual Formula Sun Grand Prix solar race resulted in their lock of seventh place in a field made up of teams representing some of the nation’s most well-known and well-respected schools.
The strong finish of Spark Mk1, the team’s car, in the single occupant vehicle class allowed them to finish ahead of teams from storied institutions such as Purdue University, Texas A&M, University of Michigan, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Stanford. École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) from Montreal, Quebec, Canada took first place.
“The experience was surreal; being on track in a car that came out of our program was an awesome feeling that won’t be going away anytime soon and that will help me and the team push into next year,” said Spencer Blackwell, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering and the team’s lead. “I am extremely happy and satisfied with our performance. We were able to get on track and put in a competitive number of laps unlike a lot of other first year teams and finished ahead of big-name schools.”
Phoenix Racing completed 93 laps and just under 300 miles on the course at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Solar Gators, University of Florida’s fourth-place finishing team, mentored Phoenix Racing both during its build and at the track.
“I’m very proud of the team and their hard work and dedication that went into the program and getting Spark completed and ready for FSGP,” Blackwell said. “I’m very glad to have them and look forward to working with them next year.”
Florida Poly’s three-wheeled, 720-pound car features a 900w SunPower Silicon solar array. Although it performed impressively, the car hit a few snags along the way.
A software glitch with the car’s battery management unit threatened to derail the team’s participation altogether because a replacement wouldn’t be available until after the race’s start, but team advisor Dr. Matt Bohm, who participated in the solar challenge program during his university years at Missouri University of Science and Technology, was able to locate a substitute at his alma mater 400 miles away.
A breakneck journey there and back had the battery functioning properly within hours.
Another snag occurred that hindered charging one day, but the team resolved the issue and was back up and running with minimal time lost.
Blackwell said the team is already working on new designs and ideas for a lighter, more competitor car, as well as considering participation in a separate cross-country solar race.
“I am extremely grateful that the University gave us the support and opportunity to build a car and enabled us to get on track in our first year,” he said.
Bohm said he was impressed with the students’ work.
“Throughout this journey it’s been great to see our students persevere, learn beyond the classroom, and rise to the occasion to become a formidable solar race team,” Bohm said.
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Lydia Guzman
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