Sun rises on World Solar Cycle Challenge competitor
The hottest solar assisted cycle under the sun will make its public debut at the Willowbank Raceway drag strip tomorrow. (Tuesday, October 12.)
The Synergy Solar Cycle Team will unveil its entry in the 1999 ETSA World Solar Cycle Challenge, a 1526km race from Alice Springs to Adelaide from October 18 to 24, at a media launch from 11am to noon.
The technological marvel, a three-wheeled, fully enclosed racing cycle powered by human pedalling, batteries and the sun has the perfect pedigree for success and, with a cruising speed of 75km/h, should do well in the Open Class, fully-faired recumbent position division. Previous winners have averaged at best 54.9km/h.
The Synergy team is headed by mechanical engineers Ben Guymer and Matthew Greaves, who were the principal designers and builders of the University of Queensland's SunShark solar car, which won its class in the 1996 World Solar Challenge.
Team member Adrian Clark was the chief designer of the electrical system for the same vehicle, while Caroline Airey, who was a SunShark driver, coordinates race logistics.
The team is sponsored by UniQuest Pty Ltd, the University of Queensland's technology commercialisation and consulting company, and is supported by Jade Engineering of Brisbane, primary machiner of the cycle's metal components, and Velocity Engineering AG of Switzerland, supplier of the drive system concept.
Other sponsors include RF Innovations, Canal Aren, McCullough Robertson, Mountain Designs, Schmooze and Grow Rich.com, Forest Lake College, HBSC, Advanced Composite Technology, Magnetic Automation and Barrier Systems
While the immediate aim is to win the Solar Challenge, team members believe there may be a future market for commuter vehicles such as Synergy, and the designers are looking into ways of using some of the systems commercially.
Although the riders - Hamish Fraser, Tom Joyce, Bill Ellis, Angus Craig and Ben Guymer - are all experienced cyclists, pedaling in the "laid back" position, even with the help of solar power, will take getting used to, as will handling a 3m long x 1.4m wide x 1m high vehicle weighing 50kg.
The UniQuest Synergy Solar Cycle will also be on show in Suncorp Place, George and Adelaide Streets, Brisbane, from 7am to 9am on Wednesday, October 13, as part of the Queensland Bicycle Week celebrations.
For more information, contact Caroline Airey, phone (07) 3365-4181 or Matthew Greaves, phone 0413 583 274.
