| UND's hydrogen-fuel-cell
race team made an all-day pit stop in Grand Forks today on its way to Winnipeg,
the next checkpoint in the 2,500-mile North American Solar Challenge.
The team and its car, Subzero IV
H2, parked outside of LM Glasfiber, in the Grand Forks Industrial Park,
drawing onlookers who wanted to get a closer look at the new technology.
"It's fantastic; it's a great design,"
said Gordon York of Grand Forks. "It even looks comfortable inside."
York and his wife, Elizabeth, were
among people and members of the media who greeted the UND racers.
Gordon said he'd might want to take
it for spin.
"I think it would be kind of fun,"
he said, with a don't-you-agree look in his eyes.
The UND car has experienced mechanical
problems almost from the start of the race as a result of an overheated
fuel cell. The team hoped to install a temperature regulator before heading
up to Winnipeg.
UND is competing as a demonstration
model against a field made up entirely of solar cars. About 40 cars started
the race; a number have dropped out or been disqualified for violating
rules. A solar car from the University of Minnesota leads the race.
Members of UND's Society for Energy
Alternatives, which operates Subzero, are hopeful they'll have a working
car ready for a new start in Winnipeg.
"We'll have our car up and running
so we can be right up there with the solar cars again and overtake them,"
said Anna Vosgerau, a team member from Page, N.D.
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