Solar car competition coming to town Community News July 18, 2018July 18, 20180 The American Solar Challenge 2018, which will pass through Burns Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, will feature collegiate solar car teams in a road rally style event. (Submitted photo) On Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, solar cars competing in the American Solar Challenge 2018 will be coming to Burns. The solar cars are expected to arrive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, depending on traffic, weather, and energy management decisions made by each of the teams. On Sunday, the solar cars will start the final stage of the event beginning at 9 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. The American Solar Challenge will feature collegiate solar car teams in a road rally style event traveling more than 1,700 miles, following portions of the Oregon National Historic Trail and other trails through Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. In partnership with the National Parks Service, this event will help commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System and the 175th anniversary of the Oregon Trail. Various stops along the route will give visitors the unique opportunity to see the solar cars, meet the teams, The University of Michigan’s Novum is one of the solar cars competing in this year’s challenge. (Submitted photo) participate in local activities, and contrast stories from the past with the possibilities of the future. Every two years, the Innovators Educational Foundation (IEF) organizes the American Solar Challenge, a collegiate student competition to design, build, and drive solar-powered vehicles in a cross-country time/distance event. Annually, IEF also organizes the Formula Sun Grand Prix track event, giving teams another opportunity to compete with their solar cars and train new team members. New in 2018, there will be two types of solar vehicles in the competition: the traditional single-occupant vehicles with space only for the driver and the new multi-occupant vehicles capable of transporting passengers and cargo. Visitors are invited to come see these unique, energy-efficient vehicles and follow their journey to Oregon. In conjunction with the American Solar Challenge, the Harney County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an array of activities at the Arrowhead Plaza in downtown Burns Saturday, July 21, beginning at 4 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase goods from local merchants and vendors and listen to live music performed by Kevin Johnston and Elaine Wolfe. They can also visit local merchants to collect pieces to build their own model solar cars!