Pre-Flight Checks

We took the car out for some pre-rayce testing last weekend, to Moorhead (for the geographically challenged, it's basically Fargo, but in MN). The drive up was interesting for EE Team, but I learned exactly how a (hopefully) average day is going to be as a designated tire changing assistant. I'm going through my book stash tomorrow to make sure I'm prepared for hours of sitting in the backseat of a 15-passenger van, feeling guilty for secretly hoping for a blown tire.

LIES. I would never wish that on Centaurus... Continuum, maybe... just kidding.

But we did get the joyous experience of a blown tire on our drive home; just not on the solar car. Our scout van ran over some metal debris and shredded a tire, causing us to make an emergency stop with our entire caravan (minus one fast van full of sleepy EE team zombies) on I-94 just north of the Cities. So, the only time on the road that we're not wearing our ready-for-action safety vests, we have to pull over on the freeway. We had cones and flags ready, and the vests were nearby, so we did manage gear up pretty safely.

That was our major source of on-road "excitement" for the weekend barring adventures with power cycling and really weird advertisements, so I do have to find a decent book to read. I've been dying to finish Les Mis, but it's a daunting read for a quiet afternoon let a lone a moving vehicle, and it's MASSIVE. There is that little issue in bringing good reading material: each team member gets one backpack for the rayce. One, with our clothes, toothbrushes, etc. I wish gas stations did the book exchange thing like airports do, where you buy one, read it, and then sell it back or get a new one when you get to the next stop.

So, tomorrow will be spent determining exactly how best to fit my life for the next three weeks into my backpack, copying all my paperwork, and - oh yeah - finishing up packing my stuff to move out of my current house.

A few quotes from the weekend:
"It's probably good that you're laughing at this, because otherwise there would be problems."
-Konrad

"That looks like a Battleship board more than it looks like a computer." / "You sunk my solar car!"
-Taylor / Brandon

"If you are confronted by a wild snowmobile, stare it in the eyes and hit it on the nose with a large stick - it should run away."
-Tyler

"It's not just me; Tyler brings out the worst in everybody."
-Emily

"Towey, how are we going to secure 40 pounds of cat litter to the car?" / "40 pounds of cat litter secures itself."
-Jeff / Pete

Peace, Love, and Safety Vests,
~Taylor