AURORA - Program Events

Program Events for 2001

Australia's leading solar car leaves Melbourne.

27 December 2001

For comprehensive coverage of the Aurora-RMIT 101 circumnavigation of Australia, please select "Round Australia *Challenge*".

Aurora commences it's 24 day Around Australia Challenge from the steps of Parliament House, Melbourne on December 27.)

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Aurora-RMIT 101 visits North Fitzroy Primary School

20 December 2001

The three winners in the RACV backed "Back a Winner! Name your Solar Cell" campaign - through which members of the public could own and name one of Aurora-RMIT 101's 4,200 solar cells for just $30 - were invited to North Fitzroy Primary School on Thursday, 20 December.

The winners were: Marl Christiansen of Northcote, Dylan Patcas and Y3 North Fitzroy Primary School, and Mr Peter Uhlenbruch of Brighton. As it happened, all winners had received their solar cell as a birthday gift.

Sorin Ionascu (RMIT),Winner Marl Christia (of Northcote)

The Aurora-RMIT 101 solar car visited North Fitzroy Primary School, which takes teaching kids about alternative energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conservation of non-renewable energy sources seriously. North Fitzroy PS's Year 6 girls (pictured) have been winners or placegetters in every Monash-Scienceworks Model Solar Boat Challenge since its 1996 inception, and in 2001came second in the Secondary School division, after winning the Primary School division. (click image for a larger version)

Professor Ian Bates and Sorin Ionascu of RMIT brought the car to a special assembly (pictured) at the School and answered questions from the School's students, which demonstrated their sophisticated understanding of solar cell and alternative energy. (click image for a larger version)

Winner Dylan Patcas of Y3 North Fitzroy Primary School (pointing to his solar cell), Sorin Ionascu (RMIT),Winner Marl Christiansen (of Northcote) and Professor Ian Bates (RMIT).

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Motorex 01

1-2 December 2001

The Aurora-RMIT 101 solar car, just back from the 2001 World Solar Challenge, and the World Champion 1999 Aurora 101 car were on display at Motorex 01, at the beginning of December. - at Melbourne's Docklands. The exposition brings together 700 vehicles of all makes and models from more than 70 motoring clubs, associations and enthusiasts under one roof .

Motorex included the new Holden Monaro, together with some of the best vehicles from the Fox Classic car museum and collectible Fiats, Ferraris, Mustangs, Rolls Royces, Thunderbirds, Triumphs, buses, motorcycles, hot rods, as well as vintage and veteran cars.

Over the 2 day exhibition, more than 500 people stopped at the Aurora-RMIT 101 display.

2001 World Solar Challenge

18-21 November

For a comprehensive coverage of Aurora-RMIT 101's participation in the 2001 World Solar Challenge, please click on "World Solar Challenge".

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Aurora-RMIT 101 Solar Car Officially Unveiled

2-Nov-2001

Approx. 250 supporters, media and the public attended the official unveiling of the 2001/02 Aurora-RMIT 101 solar car by Victorian State Treasurer and Minister for State & Regional Development, The Hon. John Brumby at 101 Collins Street, Melbourne on November 2. The Minister spoke of Victoria's commitment to manufacturing and innovative technology, and the hope for a sustainable future which the Aurora team and the Aurora-RMIT 101 solar car embodied. Also in attendance were individual solar cell owners, who had supported the Aurora-RMIT team through the Aurora-RACV Back a Winner! campaign. Australia's best known international yachtsman, John Bertrand, offered words of encouragement and inspiration to the team as they headed off to Darwin on November 10 to defend their World Champion title, in the 2001 World Solar Challenge to commence November 18. The event was featured by Channel 7 and SBS News, The Melbourne Age and The Herald Sun.

Graphics: (click for larger versions)

1 The 2001/02 Aurora-RMIT 101 solar car is unveiled by the Victorian Treasurer, John Brumby and Aurora WSC team member, Julia Burns.

2 The Official Unveiling ceremony of Aurora-RMIT 101 at 101 Collins Street, Melbourne.

3 The car at the launch

4 The 1999 World Solar Challenge Champion Cup.

Baldwin Shelston Waters Function

26-Oct-2001

The 1999 Aurora 101 Solar Car was on display at Observatory Hill, Sydney when Baldwin Shelston Waters, Australia's largest firm of patent attorneys celebrated their involvement with Australian inventions. BSW held a cocktail function for 300 clients at the scenic Observatory Hill overlooking Sydney Harbour, where guests could view the 1999 Aurora 101 Solar Car and meet members of the Aurora Team.

Graphics: (click for larger versions)

1 BSW Poster.

2 BSW Sunlight - Aurora at Twilight: on display at the BSW Cocktail Marquee, Observatory Hill, Sydney.

Aurora Helps Launch The Greenhouse Challenge In Epping

31-Aug-2001

Getting to the people was the theme for the launch of the Federal Government's Greenhouse Challenge Program in the north of Melbourne on 31 August 2001. The two adjoing districts of Whittlesea and Thomastown hosted the Victorian Transport Minister, Peter Batchelor and Canberra visitor John Wyatt to the launch of the Program at Epping Plaza. Leading University, RMIT and the Aurora Vehicle Association provided the outstanding symbol of energy efficiency by displaying the world champion solar car 'Aurora 101' for the launch and display through to closing time at 10.00 PM.

Even footy mad Melbourne took time out from a nearby competition to see the solar car. Former Carlton champion Alex Jesalenko showed great interest and signed autographs for the many football fans that attended.

Graphics: (click for larger versions)

1 Entry to Epping Plaza as the solar car was finally put away.

2 Aurora Co-Chairman Professor Ian Bates of RMIT University proudly explains the solar car technology to Alex Jesalenko.

3 The solar car in its display enclosure

RMIT University Open Day

12-Aug-2001

A huge crowd visited RMIT University on 12 August - the occasion of the University's Open Day. Aurora was proud to display a replica of the 1999 World Solar Challenge winning car as part of a group of interesting University transportation projects. The other vehicles featured included the successful 2001 Sunrace electric vehicle entry from RMIT, its Formula SAE open wheel race car and the lightweight race bike made for the Australian team at the 2000 Olympics.

Professor Ian Bates of RMIT University is Co-Chairman of the Aurora RMIT 101 team preparing to defend its World Solar Challenge championship in November this year. The Aurora Vehicle Association Inc boasts 15 team members from RMIT from both the Electrical Engineering and the Aerospace courses.

Look forward to great achievements in solar car events by the combined Aurora and RMIT team.

Frank Fittipaldi, Aurora's battery specialist with the Aurora 101 solar car display (click for larger version).

Launch of Aurora's 2001 World Solar Challenge campaign

5-Jun-2001

On World Environment Day, 5 June 2001, the Aurora Vehicle Association and their project partners RMIT University launched their new program for 2001-02.

This was a well attended business breakfast function hosted by one of Aurora's Foundation Supporters the major law firm Minter Ellison. About 80 representatives of supporter companies, media, team members and the Victorian Government had their sights set on Aurora's first competitive event planned in this new program, the 2001 World Solar Challenge.

In contrast, one of Australia's most successful motor racing drivers and race car constructors Larry Perkins gave the audience an idea of what it was like to build, in 1982, the world's first solar car. Larry together with adventurer Hans Tholstrup [founder of the WSC] went on to cross Australia from Perth to Sydney, completing the journey in 21 days. Through the generosity of the National Museum of Australia the original BP backed solar car, 'The Quiet Achiever' was on display to mark this occasion.

The Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources the Hon Candy Broad MLC congratulated the Aurora team on their long history of achievement and wished the team every success in its new and expanded program. The Minister was able to outline the many initiatives undertaken by the Victorian Government in greenhouse gas reduction programs and in encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources.

The excellent and enthusiastic audience was given an explanation of Aurora's plans to adopt new technology in solar cells, electronics, batteries and light-weight construction methods in order to improve performance by 20% from 1999.

The Master of Ceremonies for the event was John Hoerner, organiser and promoter of the annual Sunrace in Australia. This event had just received notable recognition for excellence in environmental communication by winning the prestigious Banksia Award.

Members of the audience were given the opportunity to be the first people to join Aurora's innovative 'Back a Winner' program to complete the project funding and thereby have their names recorded on the back of the new solar cells being used in the 2001 Aurora RMIT 101 solar car. This is open to all members of the public and details can be found elsewhere on this website.

The world's first solar car being unloaded at the Rialto Towers. The Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, the Hon Candy Broad MLC. John Hoerner, recent Banksia Award winner acted as MC.

Graphics: (click for larger versions)

1 The world's first solar car being unloaded at the Rialto Towers.

2 The Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, the Hon Candy Broad MLC.

3 John Hoerner, recent Banksia Award winner acted as MC.

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