TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file report on 2013 Solar Grand Prix.
DISCUSSION
Ladies and Gentlemen: Get ready for the exciting (and quiet) Fourth Annual Solar Grand Prix at the "EI Dorado Park Raceway" on Saturday, April 20 starting at 8:00 am.
Hosted by Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske and the 5th District Sustainability Task Force, this fourth annual event has drawn 67 teams from 22 different schools and organizations in and around LBUSD. More than 400 students, coaches and volunteers will participate on race day.
On February 9, 2013 each student attended an orientation on event rules, the basics of solar energy, and an introduction to model car design and construction. Additionally, representatives from the CSULA EcoCAR 2 team talked to the students about the developments in automotive engineering and the opportunities available to them in college and in the workforce should they continue to engage with topics such as math, science, engineering and design.
At the orientation, each team received a solar car kit that included a solar panel and a motor. Student teams have been working since then to design a solar car that will be raced at EI Dorado Park on April 20. Students are awarded prizes for best design and for speed. A volunteer panel of technical experts will judge the cars and officiate the race. The 20-meter wooden tracks have been constructed by the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters since the competition began in 2010.
This year's solar car kits were purchased thanks to a generous donation from Honda. Additionally, t-shirts, awards, track materials, lunch and other materials needed for the competition are paid for with donations. Sponsors of the event include: American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Pacific Pointe at Douglas Park by Sares-Regis Group, The Port of Long Beach, Supervisor Don Knabe, Ameco Solar, AES Alamitos, P2S Engineering, Keesal, Young and Logan, Recyclebank, Segue to Solar, Long B...
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