With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
High School Solar Car Race From Texas To California Canceled On Day 3
The Poly Solar Team. (From left to right) Kai Herman, Jonah Goldstein, advisor/AP Physics teacher Craig Fletcher, Julian Harrison, Aria Wang, support car driver Jill del Mar from Poly's tech department and advisor/math teacher Jack Prater.
(
Tyler Wayne
/
LAist
)
Topline:
Organizers canceled the 30th annual Solar Car Challenge Tuesday night after more than a dozen staff members tested positive for COVID-19. High school teams from around the country, including several from Southern California, started the race Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas and were set to finish in the Antelope Valley’s Palmdale on Sunday.
Why it matters: High schoolers from 20 schools have spent months, even years, building solar-powered vehicles capable of reaching speeds of up to 72 miles per hour .
A first: “[The Solar Car Challenge ] had a set of staff members who tested positive for COVID and therefore canceled the remainder of the race out of caution for the students,” said Kelly Hunter, who works for a communications firm that helped promote the event. This is the first mid-race cancellation in three decades, although the event was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Sponsored message
Student reaction: Palmdale High School Solar Falcons team captain Anthony Sonanes said the cancellation is “unbelievable,” and that the team is still processing the unexpected end to the race. “They've done an amazing job,” Sonanes said of his teammates. “They've created memories that they'll never forget and I love that I got to work with them.”
Did anyone … win? The day three results are now the race's final placements . Pasadena’s Poly Solar Car team placed second in the Classic division. The Palmdale Solar Falcons placed fourth in the Advanced Classic division. The teams, currently in El Paso, must now decide how and when to return home.
Go deeper: Pasadena Poly's Solar Car Team Sets Out For Multi-State Adventure
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
