[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO PRINCIPIA COLLEGE SOLAR CAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
Principia College Solar Car Team. Since 1995, students and advisors 
have worked on perfecting their solar car model. This year, they came 
very close to that goal by finishing second in the 2008 North American 
Solar Challenge.
  The Challenge is a 2,400-mile race from Plano, Texas to Calgary, 
Alberta, Canada. This year, fifteen cars began the race; only five 
finished. Principia College is a small liberal arts college in Elsah, 
Illinois that does not even have an engineering program. The Principia 
solar car team beat out much larger schools to finish second in the 
exhausting ten day event.
  On the second to last day of the race, Principia's car experienced 
electrical trouble and stalled for seventy-five minutes. The team 
electricians were able to remedy the problem and put the car back on 
the road. Advisor Joe Ritter and his team remained calm throughout the 
race, especially during the electrical complications.
  The pioneering spirit of the young people on the Principia College 
Solar Car Team deserves recognition and thanks. These students are the 
ones who will carry our country forward. I stand with my colleagues 
today to honor the Principia College Solar Car Team for an outstanding 
second place finish in the North American Solar Challenge.

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