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'Suitcase Man' Has Adelaide in His Sights

Detlef Schmitz brings his World Solar Challenge car in his
luggage Source: World Solar Challenge [Oct 17, 2003]
DARWIN – Indomitable German Detlef Schmitz is
determined to make it seventh time lucky as he battles to
end his first World Solar Challenge. Nicknamed the 'suitcase
man' because his collapsible solar car can be dismantled into
small pieces, Detlef has entered every Darwin to Adelaide
challenge since the inaugural event in 1987 – and he has yet
to finish. With a support crew of four – including himself
and his daughter Steffi,17, Michael Viebach and Bernhard
Scharl – Detlef has the smallest team in the 23-strong field.
Detlef freely admits that finishing the World Solar
Challenge has become a lifetime goal – if not an obsession.
When he goes on holiday to the beach, he moulds solar cars
from the sand. When he's not in Australia competing, he is
planning his next assault on the 3010km course. "Why do I
do it? It's hot, you always strike problems, it costs a lot of
money and we don't have a lot of money," Detlef said. "I am
sure everyone else thinks we're mad, but I feel good about it.
I have made a lot of good friends in Australia over the
years, especially in Darwin where they welcome us and look
after us." This is the third time Detlef has entered his
Heliodet 6 car in the event. His best effort was in 1999 when
the car went 2200km before stopping just 60km north of
Coober Pedy in South Australia's far north. This is Detlef's
third car since 1987, and every year he spends $5000 to
$10,000 on improvements. Heliodet 6 has an average speed
of about 50kph, compared to the Dutch Nuna II car which
can reach 170kph. Unlike other solar vehicles, the overall
array of the Heliodet 6's solar panels is flat. "The solar
generator is 15-16 per cent efficient – that's an improvement
of two per cent on last year," he said. "The front of the car
has been reduced in space so there'll be less wind resistance
and we've increased the battery voltage. "If we have enough
sun we will make it this year – from a technical side we are
very well prepared. "We're relaxed and looking forward to
the challenge. I'm always happy and relaxed, but when I get
to Adelaide I'll feel even better." The World Solar Challenge
is owned and managed by Australian Major Events, a
division of the South Australian Tourism Commission. For
further information visit www.wsc.org.au and fleet.com.au
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Air Pollution Cancer Fears Grow
Men living in areas with polluted air may be more likely to
develop lung cancer, according to scientists.
Source: PR Newswire
[Dec 04, 2003]

Norwegian experts who looked at more than 16,000 men
over almost three decades found that those in more polluted
areas were more at risk.
The stronger the concentration of nitrogen dioxide, the
greater the chance of developing the disease.
However, smoking remains the biggest risk factor for
developing lung cancer, say experts.
It has always been tough to pin down the health effects of
air pollution, although evidence linking it to cancer has
emerged before.
However, the large scale study has produced clear signs
that pollution may influence lung cancer.
During the follow-up period of 27 years, more than 400 men
from the group developed lung cancer.
The researchers altered their results to take account of
smoking habits - but found that, for every rise in
concentration of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
around their home compared to their home at the start of
the study, there was roughly an 8% increase in risk.
However, there was no increase in cancer risk linked to
sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels.

More evidence
This still means their overall risk of lung cancer is relatively
small - but the researchers, from the Norwegian Institute of
Public Health, believe that it is clear evidence.
In the journal Thorax, they wrote: "Urban air pollution
may increase the risk of developing lung cancer in men.
"Compared with smoking the association between air
pollution and lung cancer is weak but of expected size."
However, they said that further, similar research was
needed to make sure no other factor was at work in these
cases.
Professor Stephen Spiro, of the British Thoracic Society, said:
"This is yet another study which reinforces a small but
significant link between urban air pollution and the risk of
developing lung cancer.
"Air pollution does not discriminate between young and old
- it is therefore essential that we all work together to
minimise pollution levels.
"We must also conduct further in-depth studies
investigating this link."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3288781.stm

Published: 2003/12/04 01:48:38 GMT

© BBC MMIII

The Root of every beginning grows with love and care.
Who would dare to travel with me to the heart of the
Caspian Sea?
To show, make and give simple and sophisticated Solar
Coats, Solar Boats and a Solar Car in a suitcase.
Now isn't that a life ? Or is that a life.
To save the Caspian Sea
People are invited to fish for their food with a bee hat and
use their power to design and make Solar devices for
themselves and for Export.
Export, Export, Export
Solar Boat, Solar Coat !!
From the Caspian Sea
To the whole world.
Export, Export, Export
Solar Coat
To the Babies on the road!!
Export, Export, Export
Solar Car, to create work, work, work.
Export the work
Musical hologram
Ay You, the content one, the brave one.
Ay You, time after time , giving me a ride
on Your Unicorn.

Q ueen's University Solar Vehicle Team – "Gemini" Canada
Gemini is Canada's first two-seater solar car featuring side-
by-side design to enter the World Solar Challenge. The
Queen's University Solar Vehicle Team is a dynamic,
multidisciplinary student team whose goal is to design and
build vehicles that are solely powered by the sun's energy.
The team concentrates its efforts on three principal areas:
technical innovation, educational activities and
environmental awareness. Queen's is one of the hot
favourites for this year's WSC. Contact: Andrew Masons,
Team Manager, 0407 492 953

RMIT – "Southern Aurora 99" Hamilton, Victoria,
Australia It was all hands - on - deck for members of the
Southern Aurora 99 solar car team who raced against time
to complete its vehicle in eight weeks for this year's World
Solar Challenge. The team, which is a subgroup of one of the
event's strongest entrants, Aurora 101, revamped Aurora's
winning '99 vehicle for the event complete with new solar
cells, telemetry system and improved aerodynamics. Based
in Hamilton in Victoria, the team has received enormous
support from the community with local businesses and
individuals donating products, providing advice and being
involved in the construction of the vehicle. The Southern
Aurora was initiated by father and son team, Jack and
Damien McArthur, who have been members of the Aurora
Vehicle Association for many years and were members of
the Aurora team at the previous WSC event and in Japan
at the Dream Cup (Suzuka). The vehicle is mainly an
Australian car with the majority of the cells manufactured
by Pacific Solar/UNSW and the motor made by the CSIRO.
The aerodynamic design of the vehicle was developed by
Aurora under the guidance of an expert engineer at Ford,
and tested extensively by RMIT in the wind tunnel.
Contact: David Knowles, Team Manager, 0418 320 518 0427
778 233

Southern Cross Catholic College – "Southern Exposure"
Southern Exposure is the only Queensland entrant in this
year's World Solar Challenge event. The team from the
Southern Cross Catholic College entered the event in 1999
and 2001. Valuable lessons were learnt from its
participation in these events, and since then, the team has
worked on several aspects of the solar car to improve its
performance. The design of the new Southern Exposure solar
vehicle is lighter, more aerodynamic and incorporates a
light sophisticated suspension. The car is made from a light
carbon fibre and is capable of speeds of up to 100 kph. It also
has a completely new state of the art electrical system
designed and fitted by Queensland University of
Technology. The front suspension units on the vehicle were
originally produced by Ford but have been modified by the
team to fit the new car. The front of the solar vehicle is now
closer to the ground, to reduce drag. Another feature of the
vehicle is that the hydraulic disc brakes are on all three
wheels. Like the College's previous solar vehicles, the new car
is designed so that students are able to have maximum
hands-on experience in the construction of the vehicle and
learn about the production of renewable energy sources.
Contact: Russell Cornwell, Team Manager, 0419 798 518

Southern Taiwan University of Technology – "Apollo IV"
T he Apollo IV is one of only two solar cars from Taiwan to
enter this year's WSC event. Students from the Southern
Taiwan University of Technology recently embarked on a
test run of the Apollo IV as preparation for the
international event. The team completed a three-day, 700-
kilometre round trip from Tainan to Taipei. Residents of
Taiwan follow the solar car road tests with great interest as
it represents the country's successful pioneering work.

South Australian Solar Car Consortium – "Kelly" The South
Australian Solar Car Consortium will once again enter a
two-seater, side-by-side configuration vehicle in the WSC.
This is the second solar car built by the Consortium - the
first was named Ned. The solar vehicle has been upgraded
to provide greater reliability. The team worked with
eLabtronics, a South Australian company, to use 26 solar
optimisers instead of the original two trackers. Contact:
Stephen Bravington,Team Manager, 0401 124 702.

Sungroper – "Sungroper" The Sungroper Solar Car
Association from Perth, Western Australia, will remain in
touch with the world as it takes along a mobile internet
café, equipped with a two-metre satellite dish, during its
journey down Australia's centre. Working with a very
small budget, much of the Sungroper solar car has been
recycled from its run in the 2001 WSC. Adjustments have
been made to the front suspension and steering to ensure
consistent wheel alignment. The team, consisting of
professionals, technicians, managers and consultants, has
reduced the weight of the Sungroper, using Corflute for
much of the car's floor. The team has also trimmed excess
fibreglass from the car's top shell. Further reductions in
weight were achieved by using modern adhesives and other
novel fastening methods for securing unstressed
components. At the end of the WSC, the team will arrange
the planting of trees to compensate for the carbon emissions
released by its support vehicles used during the WSC.
Contact: Karen Kotze, Team Manager, 040 888 0219

The Paradise Solar Car Team – "The Paradise" The
Caribbean Island will this year be represented in the WSC
with the Universidad del Turabo in Gurabo entering its
solar car, The Paradise, into the international, biennial
event. The Paradise Solar Car team, consisting of 12
mechanical, electrical and industrial engineering students,
has included special features such as a solar array that
utilises the best solar cells commercially available, and a
lithium-polymer battery pack. The team has been fortunate
enough to purchase high-quality components for its solar
car, which it hopes will provide the extra energy needed to
successfully complete the event. The team has also spent a
great amount of time navigating solar prototype vehicle
web pages and has even been in touch with NASA. With all
of this information at hand, as well as some acquired
knowledge of Australia's weather patterns, the team should
be in the running for a good finish time.

UNSW Solar Racing Team – "UNSW Sunswift II" The
University of NSW Solar Racing Team is the only student-
managed team in Australia. T he team employs a
revolutionary encapsulation technique in which the car's
solar panels were built curved – a first in the solar car
industry. Earlier this year one member of the team, David
Snowdon, won the NSW division of the Siemens Prize for
Innovation and the Institution of Engineers Australia thesis
prize (NSW division), for his work on the design and
implementation of a telemetry and control system for the
solar car. While the implementation could not be directly
transferred to a normal commuter car, it would be possible
to use the technology in a more conventional vehicle,
reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions for
highway journeys. The team's other success includes the
completion during the summer of 2000-01 of the Top Cell
project. Twenty undergraduate students participated in this
world first by building silicon solar cells with efficiencies
comparative to those built by professionals. Contact:
Andrew Pratley, Team Manager, 0438 623 077

Winston Solar Car Team – "Astropower"
United States The Winston Solar Car Team from Texas
is the longest existing high school solar car team in the
United States. The team first developed its solar education
program in 1990. This program is now used in more than
900 schools in 22 countries and teaches students how to
build roadworthy solar cars. This is the eighth solar vehicle
for the high school and the third time the team has entered
the WSC.

GreenFleet Annesley College – "EOS – Spirit of Unley"
Adelaide, South Australia The girls from Annesley College
in Adelaide are undertaking the challenge of vehicle
development, team organisation and the outback of
Australia as competitors in this year's Greenfleet class. The
team of 25 students and teachers will be demonstrating
solar hybrid technology with their car EOS, named after the
Greek Goddess of the dawn. Contact:Peter Gubbins. Team
Manager, 0422 231437

Australian Farmers Fuel - "Truck" South Australia
Australian Farmers Fuel, from South Australia
representing Australian Farmers Fuel for the South
Australian Farmers' Federation is entering Truck for the
first time as a member of the Greenfleet class. Truck will be
run on biodiesel, which has been used extensively in Europe
and the US for more than 10 years and has proved to be a
superior diesel fuel, which will be put to the test on the
event.

Bio Busters & Benny the Bio Bus South Australia The
South Australian Government's Department of Transport
and Urban Development will participate this year for the
first time as part of the Greenfleet class. Benny the Bio Bus
will travel the distance run entirely on bio diesel with a
team of no more than seven passengers.

Holden – "Eco4 Astra" Fishermans Bend, Victoria,
Australia Eco4 - Astra is a standard European production
vehicle participating in the Greenfleet class. The vehicle is
powered by a 1.7 litre turbo charged , intercooled, diesel
engine. While the vehicle has a more than reasonable level
of performance, it has been developed with a focus on high
fuel economy and reduced greenhouse emissions. The vehicle
is fitted with aerodynamic underbody aids, to reduce
aerodynamic drag and also includes low rolling resistance
tyres. The highest recorded speed of the vehicle is 175kph.
The opportunity to evaluate and demonstrate diesel
technology, while generating public awareness of diesel
efficiencies is an opportunity not to be missed by the Holden
team. Contact: Tristan Everett National Manager –
Production Communications Holden, 03 9647 1095, 0418 116
074

London South Bank University/FH Bochum - "E-POD" UK
Joint team, London South Bank University and FH Bochum
have joined forces to enter E-POD. The challenge to travel
from Darwin to Adelaide powered by a small electric
commuter car that has taken just over 10 months to build,
will see this team demonstrate a different type of solar car.
After the race, the car will be used to travel throughout the
streets of London. Contact:Mike Duke, Team Manager, 0011
447 753 747 728

Related links:
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http://www.wsc.org.au/photographs.htm
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