Solar cars are not a gimmick, they’re a moving test lab that has to survive real traffic, real rules, and real weather. We sit down with Gail Lueck, event director for the American Solar Challenge, to unpack how collegiate teams build and campaign solar-powered cars under a 90-plus page regulations book, then prove themselves in scrutineering before they ever hit the road. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to make sunlight turn into dependable transportation, this conversation makes it concrete fast.
Gail walks us through the two-part structure: the Formula Sun Grand Prix endurance track event at Brainerd International Raceway, followed by the cross-country American Solar Challenge for the teams that qualify. This year’s route is a car lover’s dream and an engineer’s puzzle, heading out of Minneapolis along the Great River Road, then cutting over to Route 66 in honor of the centennial, finishing in Amarillo. We talk single-occupant versus multi-occupant classes, why “most miles covered” matters more than top speed, how optional loops can change the leaderboard, and why practicality features like luggage space and cup holders show up in judging.
Weather adds a wild card: smoke haze, rain, and cloud cover can force teams to slow down and rethink their entire energy model.
After that, we shift gears with Jeff’s Motor Minute on IndyCar’s upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix on the streets of Washington, D.C., then Don shares a candid review of the redesigned 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan, from the sharp interior to the turbo lag that can feel risky when you need power now. Subscribe, share this with a car friend, and leave a review with your take: would you rather chase speed, or chase efficiency?
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