Posted on July 14: Wheels fall off Mac’s solar car race bid

There'll be no McMaster University entry in the 2003 American Solar Challenge race between Chicago and California.

Fireball II, the university's entry in the 3,700-kilometre race, failed to qualify Friday after it only covered 129.5 kilometres during a 5 1/2 hour period. The car had to travel 220 kilometres during the qualification round at Northwestern University at Evanston, IL.

Two flat tires, a lost wheel and bad weather are being blamed for slowing down Fireball II. On the last of its 35 laps at Northwestern, the vehicle had to be pushed up a hill.

(The Hamilton Spectator, July 12, 2003)

For access to The Hamilton Spectator online, McMaster users can click here from a main campus computer.