HOUSTON – The Houston Solar Race team is back on the highway again, training for the upcoming Hunt-Winston Solar Challenge.

However, the team was busy long before they were seen on the road. The team works on their solar cars throughout the year, modifying, tweaking and adjusting for maximum performance, but they really draw attention when they get out on the highway.

They have been traveling all around Mississippi and surrounding states to get a feel for the upcoming road race to Colorado.

“We try to win this race here in Houston before we ever leave,” said sponsor Keith Reese, of the miles logged in practice.

The team will take two cars to competition again this year, with Sundancer I manned by an all-male squad and competing in the Open division. Sundancer II will be manned by an all-female squad and will compete in the Classic division. 17 entries are recorded in the Classic division and two entries are showing in the Open division. Reese said they number of entries is up from last year and the competition will be strong, as usual.

“It’s going to be an extremely tough one,” Reese said. “But I think we can pull this off.”

The race begins July 18 as the participating teams leave the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth and concludes on July 25 in Boulder, Colo.

For information and photos from training runs, go to sundancersolarcar.blogspot.com, or go to www.chickasaw360.com to get the link.