2010 Solar Car Video TEXT:

On a hot summer day, these UK students could be relaxing by the pool, but instead theyÕre in a un-air conditioned garage É

NAT UP FULL (fan sound)

Éworking hard to put the finishing touches on their brand new solar car.

SOT (Sam Nicaise): ÒItÕs really easy to design simple things that work in a standalone environment, but to put it all together into a car which is a huge, huge system of all kinds of components working together that's a very difficult aspect.Ó

This yearÕs entry into the 2010 American Solar Car Challenge, which consists of racing around a track and then across the Midwest, is Gato del Sol 4.  Team members say this yearÕs experience is completely different than when they worked on their last entry, Gato del Sol 3.

SOT (Brian Passafiume): ÒWe got to see through an entire design and build process and actually get to design a lot of the components on the car, which we weren't able to do for Gato 3.

SOT (Sam): "I think weÕll show up this year to the race and a lot of the team's will be like, "Wow, Kentucky's really grown, they've really made strides," which is exciting." 

SOT (Brian): ÒItÕs a lot more aerodynamic, we have much better solar cells. We're hoping that our mechanical stuff is a lot better as well so when we drive, we drive a lot more efficiently.Ó

A benefit the carÕs driver, Kassy Lum, appreciates since she says her job isnÕt easy.

SOT (Kassy Lum): ÒItÕs not the most glamorous job even though everyone wants to be the driver because you have to fit in such a small car. ItÕs hot. We don't get an air conditioner; we don't even have a radio.Ó

Despite the carÕs lack of comfort features Lum says the experience is worth it.

SOT (Kassy): ÒYouÕll be racing down the track and you'll see a car flip in front or you'll be trying to honk at someone but it's a no passing lane. You get really competitive, that's probably the only competitive part because everyone during the race really tries to help out each other, and it's pretty awesome.Ó

Still, team members set high expectations for themselves.

SOT (Brian): "We've really grown as a team to be a budding solar car team in the community of a lot of team's around the world, to now this year where we will be one of the main competitors in the competition."

SOT (Sam):"Hopefully winning. I'd like to compete a lot better this time than the last few times that we raced."

No matter what happens, they value what this process has added to their education.

SOT (Sam): "Not a lot of people get to work on this type of thing, especially as students when you're not even in the workplace yet to work with really advanced technology."

SOT (Kassy): "It's a great hands on learning tool, just this whole program and this whole experience."

SOT (Brian): "It's really exciting for a race scenario where I get to take it around the country through the middle of the Midwest and show it off to people along the way. Little towns to big towns, Kansas City to Raleigh, Mo. it's all the same, but for real people to see that this technology has come out in our world and that we're making it happen as students, it's exciting."

But they say the best part is showing the country what UK students can accomplish

SOT (Sam):"Since I was younger I've always been a diehard Kentucky fan in all sports, being able to represent the university is pretty exciting for me."

SOT (Brian):ÒItÕs a lot of pride for us.  To be able to come from where weÕve gone in the past and have students from around the country on our team, but all focusing on being the University of Kentucky team and wearing blue with pride every single day of the race."

For the University of Kentucky, IÕm Amy Jones.