Huge ideas, backup cars and a lesson
The main builds did not hold together, but the backup cars saved the day.
A frame, two solar panels and faster gearing. The run was about 10 seconds.
A simple solar panel and wheels. It pulled about 5.2 kg.
In 2024 the ideas were huge — too huge. The plans were complicated, and on competition day nothing really held together. We like to say that everything was held together by “wishful thinking and hot glue”.
We first heard about Solar Cup in 2019, when Dad found it on uzlādēts.lv. It was already summer and registration had passed. The 2020 event did not happen, and in 2021 and 2022 we missed registration again.
2024 became our first real Solar Cup start. Ervins was still 11, while Solar Cup usually starts from age 12, so we asked for permission. The age limit was not too strict, and he could compete.
The cars that saved the start were actually from 2022. Helena built a simple solar car in June: a panel and wheels. One month later, in July, Ervins built his version with a frame, two panels and faster gearing.
Both cars were with us on competition day. Since the new 2024 builds did not work, we used them: Ervins' car in speed, Helena's car in power.
Result: Ervins took 2nd place in speed, Helena took 3rd place in power.
2024 taught us that the construction must be serious. In 2025 we avoided hot glue and used more screws. In 2026, aiming for high pulling force, we used strong screws and metal.
Without event organisers, supporters and sponsors, we would not have had a place to start competing and learn from a real track.