Let's All Support These Young Men. They Deserve it.

Team Sol Shine Alternatives running the alternative energy Mercedes are making their way around the U.S. in an effort to spread the word and teach others about alternative energy. Here is a nice note they sent today. When you have time be sure and check out their blog which will give you a whole different appreciation for a worthy cause brought about by one more team who was drawn to La Carrera Panamerican.



Hello Gary,

I wanted to write you an email to thank you personally for your support during the last couple of weeks. Kip and I had a chance to read your blog post and it really meant a lot to us. I am currently in Boulder, CO on my way to Jackson, WY. I'm really excited about the event there so be sure to check the blog for pictures and updates. We're hoping to use the momentum from the race to further develop the educational resources of SolShine, and reach as many people as possible with our message of sustainable alternative energy education. We will be spending the next year fundraising for the 2009 Carrera. We will also be trying to find grant funding to develop our educational resources for the U.S. and Mexico. We've talked about putting together a program to distribute the portable solar panels that we had with us on our trip. We also met a young engineer in Tuxtla and would like to send him a grease kit to install in his own diesel, so that he can begin teaching locals in the Chiapas region how to do it on their own. We hope to have our website and blog up in Spanish in 2 or 3 months. Can't wait to see your documentary. Again we really appreciate you support, and look forward to seeing you next year!

Best Regards,

Mike

--
Michael C. DeVine
Co-founder: Sol Shine Alternatives
Racing the green roads to a more sustainable future...

Remember The #278 Mercedes

Team Sol Shine Alternatives piloted by Chris Moncrief and co-piloted by Mike Devine, the #278 Mercedes that ran on waste vegetable oil had what many racers would consider a nightmare race. As a racer I have to really admire this team, what they originally set out to accomplish and the fact that they never gave up. After one day of racing they were stuck and even though their race car suffered some minor race related battle scars it was in fact their support vehicle that let them stranded (more than once) behind. But in the same way that the Phoenix rose from the ashes they too made the best of things and drove into Nuevo Laredo holding their heads high. Well, OK, so maybe their heads weren't so high but that's only due to the fact they had to drive 20 HOURS STRAIGHT to catch up! I find it amazing that when you consider they were left behind for all but one day of racing to fend for themselves that they STILL DIDN'T FINISH LAST!!! That's correct. Out of 107 cars they finished 96!!!


Not your typical fuel stop. Fill'er up please and check the oil.

I find it ironic that they had a perfectly good race car locked up in the trailer but it was the support vehicle that let them down. Those of you reading this who are planning future events, let this serve as a reminder that there are so many other aspects of this race that can not and must not be overlooked. This is a long and very difficult trip, one that is hard on even a vehicle that is not being pushed. Keeping this in mind, you can begin to realize how hard it is for a race car. Every aspect and every possibility MUST BE CONSIDERED. Like I have said a thousand times before, it is "WHAT IF" racing.




I don't know about you but I can't wait to read more about these guys and that little ole fat burnin hot rod that made us all sit up and look.

Photo's Courtesy of Coop and Team Sol Shine Alternatives

Bringing A Knife To Gun Fight?

One of the unique race cars that traveled with the Coyote Convoy that I saw in San Miguel de Allende was car #278 a 1959 Mercedes 190D running in Historic A from SOL SHINE ALTERNATIVES. To say these two young guys are innovative and outgoing would be putting it mildly. I spent some time talking about the car with Piloto Chris Moncrief and Co-Piloto Mike Devine. Considering their experience it has been a rough haul so far as you can read on their blog but I intend to keep an eye on them and wish them luck to boot.

Oh, and did I forget to mention it runs on used cooking/vegetable oil? That's right, they are the very first team to race while using alternative fuel. Since all cars racing in La Carrera Panamericana are required to use PEMEX brand gas, prior to the race they had to obtain permission from race organizers and make their own arrangements to have each hotel they stay at to save their used cooking oil from that day. I wonder what they would do if they ran out? How do you tell a Spanish speaking tow truck driver, "Take me to the nearest McDonalds so I can get gas?" Even if he does understand them he might just hand them a bottle of Beeno.



At the end of day one they were siting in 80th place. Not bad at all.


This is the heater exchange used to warm up the oil. I suppose if they get stuck in traffic they could always make some fries.