By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
KALAMAZOO - Western Michigan University students spent months preparing for the start of the 2,500-miles race that will take them across six states and three Canadian provinces using nothing except the power of the sun for fuel.
Among these students is Carl (C.J.) Hawkins of Niles.
Hawkins is majoring in aeronautical engineering and is the team co-captain.
The Sunseeker solar car team from WMU's College of Engineering and Applied Science has been in Austin, Texas since July 9 going through final inspections and qualifying events.
The race began Sunday, July 17 at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and will conclude on Wednesday, July 27 in Calgary Alberta.
The route, the longest of any collegiate solar race to date, follows U.S. Route 75 and the Trans-Canada Highway, with checkpoints in Weatherford, Texas, Tulas, Okla., Topeka, Kan., Omaha, Neb., Sioux Falls, S.D., Fargo, N.D., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Brandon, Maniotba, Regina, Saskatchewan and Medicine Hat, Alberta.
The 2005 race marks the eighth solar race for WMU. The university is one of only three schools in North America and the only one in Michigan to have qualified for and completed all seven previous races held since 1990.
Cars in the event must be powered solely by sunshine and competitors use solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity to power their cars.
Cars race each day within a specified time frame and check in at official sites along the route. The car with the fastest cumulative time will win the competition.
With weather and enery management playing critical roles in the event, cars mostly travel at highway speeds and are required to obey local speed limits. In general, the sunnier the day, the faster and farther the cars can run.
Members of the Sunseeker team inlclude:
Advisors: Abraham Poot, Dr. John Kapenga and Fredderick Sitkins.
Students: James Plocinik, Livonia; Carl (C.J.) Hawkins, Niles; Justin Rensch, Delton; Ian Smith, Mattawan; Tomothy Gaston, Livoni; Steve Yurk, Portage; David Ludens, Portage; Alexander Hessler, Paw Paw.