The Iowa State solar car team will get a video sneak peak at Sunrayce ’99, thanks to a retired Ames couple.

Team PrISUm members were worried because they did not have a method to view the track before the actual race, which will begin June 20 in Florida.

“We thought the more information we had about the route, the better,” said Jeff Lanning, Team PrISUm’s strategy team leader. “But we didn’t have the resources to do it.”

Lanning said the team tried several different methods to research the road before relaying its plight to local couple Herb and Esther Harmison at an ISU Retirees meeting.

While giving a presentation about the race to the ISU Retirees, Lanning said he mentioned in passing that the team wished they had the funding and time to do the research.

“I just mentioned the importance of knowing the environment strategies,” he said. “We just didn’t have anyone to do it between now and June.”

After the presentation, Lanning said the Harmisons asked questions about the data the team needed and how to get it. Herb Harmison is a retired ISU engineering placement director.

“Esther mentioned that they had a son in Florida, and they were planning on visiting in March,” Lanning said.

He said the team had tried a couple of different strategies to learn about the route prior to meeting the Harmisons.

“We tried to contact the Department of Transportation to get data about the roads, mostly speed limits along the way,” he said.

One option would have been for the team to travel to Florida during spring break, but the members already were planning to work on the solar car during that time, Lanning said.

A solution to the problem was found when the Harmisons offered to survey the course for the team. The team agreed to let the Harmisons collect the course data and provided them with the proper equipment, including a small computer, VCR and a global positioning system. The couple left March 2 and will return March 18.

“It will take about three to four days to analyze the data,” said Alan Ihlefeld, Team PrISUm director.

The data includes information about stop signs, towns, speed limits and tree cover, Lanning said.

Ihlefeld said the information will give team members an idea of where they will have to stop or slow down.

“This is very important in order to save the most energy,” he said.

Lanning said the data was crucial because none of the members have ever seen the area or driven on the East Coast before.

Ihlefeld said the video also will be used for driver training at the actual race.

“The driver can view a video of what to expect on the next day’s route,” he said.

The nine-day Sunrayce ’99 is a big event for college students, Lanning said. The Sunrayce is a biennial North American solar car race open to college and university students.

There are 55 registered teams this year, Lanning said.

He said Team PrISUm currently is building its fifth solar car.

“We started with about 100 members in the beginning and now have about 40,” he said.

Lanning said the team loses members over the course of the year because of the large time commitment. He said he is confident the work will pay off when the team competes in June for the trophy.

“The real prize will be the recognition of being the No. 1 solar car-building university in the country,” he said.

The Harmisons were given T-shirts from the team, and the team will include the couple on its list of sponsors.