Saint Thomas Academy Team Breaks National Records at Solar BikeRayce USA 2004. School's Experimental Vehicle Team earns fourth national title in five years. Mendota Heights, Minn. (May 26, 2004)

Averaging speeds of more than 30 miles an hour, the Saint Thomas Academy Experimental Vehicle Team set a new Solar BikeRayce national record, completing 100 km in 1:52.36 at the annual Solar BikeRayce USA.

"This was an amazing group project," said physics teacher and Experimental Vehicle Team moderator Mark Westlake. "Utilizing alternative energy sources is a hot topic, and it was extremely enjoyable to watch the culmination of the students' hard work and many late night evenings come to fruition on the race track."

Solar BikeRayce is an international, closed-course "rayce" held in Topeka, Kansas. The Cadets entered both a solar car and a solar bike into the national competition, breaking records in both categories. Saint Thomas Acady's solar car and bike averaged 32.61 mph and 28.67 mph, respectively. Both entries finished 19 minutes ahead of the second place teams, setting new national records in each event. More than a dozen high school, college, and independent teams from across the country competed in the solar car "rayce" and 19 teams, including one from Italy, competed in the solar bike "rayce".

The Experimental Vehicle Team is a co-curricular activity moderated by Academy physics teacher Mark Westlake and includes 11 students: L.Wallrich (12), N. DePrey (11), D. Patterson (11), K. Maas (11), B. Finn (11), K. El Muslemany (11), D. Beilke (10), B. Johnson (10), R. Pearce (10), M. DeMay (10), and P. Bauleke (10). Next year, the STA Experimental Vehicle Team hopes to take what they have learned this year and build an entirely new solar car in preparation for the annual World Solar Challenge.

Special thanks to the people and companies that have made the project possible: Rotor Cranks USA (www.rotorcranksusa.com) Gravity Lab (www.gravitylab.com) Elko Speedway Hoigaards Parents and Grandparents Richard Westlake.

About Solar BikeRayce USA: Solar BikeRayce teams construct vehicles that are powered either partially or entirely by solar power. The competition challenges the builders to complete 100 km (62 miles) in the shortest amount of time with their pedaled or non-pedaled solar-assisted vehicles. The event is held as part of the Formula Sun Education Foundation. Information about the foundation can be found at http://foundation.formulasun.org. The mission of the event is to stimulate interest in science and technology and to raise awareness of alternative energy sources. More information about the event can be found at http://www.solarbike.org.

Four National Titles in Five Years The Experimental Vehicle team has set four national titles in five years: - 2004 Solar BikeRayce USA Champions' 100 km in 1:52.36. - 2003 Human Powered Ice Race Champions' 100-meter Time Trial with 7.6 seconds (29.4 mph). - 2002 Electric Cart Association High School Champions' 37.52 miles - 2000 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) College Supermileage Challenge Champions' 1,131 miles per gallon of gasoline. - 2000 Minnesota Technology Education Association (MTEA) Supermileage Challenge Champions: National High School Record: 1,322 miles per gallon of gasoline.