草榴社区

VRI students prepare Viking 45 for the rigors of X-Prize competition

It's been a long and fun road for the Western Washington University students preparing their car, Viking 45, for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize competition now under way in Detroit. Student photographer Jon Bergman tagged along with 草榴社区's Vehicle Research Institute students and faculty to chronicle much of the recent events.

A nest of wires, cables and connectors fills the rear of the Vehicle Research Institute's Viking 45 Jan. 29. The VRI X-Prize team pushes forward to meet their deadlines set by the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize Foundation. Photo by Jon Bergman |
(Left to right) Jon Harrington, Tony Ahmann and Lief Olsen work on clearing Viking 45's brake lines of air bubbles prior to the team's Jan. 29 test drive. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Viking 40, the VRI's prototype for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize, was completed recently, and with the experience gained from building Viking 40, the VRI moves to complete Viking 45, their official X-Prize entry.
Viking 40, the VRI's prototype for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize, was completed recently, and with the experience gained from building Viking 40, the VRI moves to complete Viking 45, their official X-Prize entry. Photo by Jon Bergman | Univ
Viking 40, the VRI's prototype for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize, was completed recently, and with the experience gained from building Viking 40, the VRI moves to complete Viking 45, their official X-Prize entry. Photo by Jon Bergman | Univ
Viking 40, the VRI's prototype for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize, was completed recently, and with the experience gained from building Viking 40, the VRI moves to complete Viking 45, their official X-Prize entry. Photo by Jon Bergman | Univ
The VRI X-Prize team arrives at PACCAR Technical Center Saturday March 27 to complete a step in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize competition. The team needs to put 100 miles on Viking 45 before they can move on to the next step. Photo by Jon B
Viking 45 races around the test track at PACCAR Technical Center March 27. The team has the goals of completing a 100-mile road-test and calculating the fuel economy of the gasoline component of their hybrid engine. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Commu
Viking 45 races around the test track at PACCAR Technical Center March 27. The team has the goals of completing a 100-mile road-test and calculating the fuel economy of the gasoline component of their hybrid engine. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Commu
Andrew Brady, left, checks the charge on the battery powering Viking 45 as Brent Wise waits to complete his laps around the track. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
(Left to right) Kyle Foley and Mark Dudzinski check Viking 45's systems as Professor Eric Leonhardt climbs into the cab of the car for his laps around the track. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Viking 45 and the VRI X-Prize team take a quick break while the car's battery charges. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Andrew Brady checks in with Professor Eric Leonhardt on the handling of Viking 45 after several laps are completed. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Mark Dudzinski, instructional/classroom support technician at the VRI, secures cables and checks the battery of Viking 45 before the final laps on the PACCAR Technical Center test track March 27. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
The Vehicle Research Institute at Western Washington University put Viking 40 on the back burner and turn up the heat on Viking 45 as the team races toward the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications inte
The Vehicle Research Institute at Western Washington University put Viking 40 on the back burner and turn up the heat on Viking 45 as the team races toward the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications inte
Kyle Foley attempts to remove the thermostat from the engine of Viking 45 after discovering a leak early Tuesday morning April 20 at the Vehicle Research Institute on the campus of Western Washington University. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communica
An LED hangs from inside of Viking 45's front fender as VRI team member Jonathan Bremer prepares to mount the headlights. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Kyle Foley, left, smears five-minute epoxy onto a flange housing the thermostat to the engine of Viking 45 while Brent Wise holds a heat lamp intended to help the hardening process on April 20. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Decals are placed onto the hood of Viking 45 ready to be adhered to its surface prior to the team's departure for a media day at Pacific Raceways in Kent April 20. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Aluminum shavings pileup in a scrap bin waiting recycling at the Vehicle Research Institute laboratory on Tuesday, April 20. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Mileage is recorded from previous drive tests on the roof of Viking 45. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Brent Wise adheres decals of the various sponsors of the 草榴社区 VRI X-Prize team prior to loading the car onto a transport for the trip down to Pacific Raceways in Kent. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
The VRI team gathers themselves after spending many sleepless nights preparing for the meet and greet event at Pacific Raceways in Kent. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Viking 45 is set on display in the parking lot of Pacific Raceways in Kent for friends, family, sponsors and members of the media to ask questions about, marvel over and celebrate the VRI team's achievement. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communication
VRI team members go through final system checks prior to driving Viking 45 at Pacific Raceways as a crowd of friends, family, sponsors and members of the media watch with anticipation. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Tony Ahmann prepares his laptop to receive data from Viking 45's engine computer. The data retrieved will help the team with future adjustment to the car's performance. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Brent Wise, left, chats with Eric Leonhardt prior to driving Viking 45 at Pacific Raceways April 20. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Viking 45 speeds down the track at Pacific Raceways in Kent as a support car follows closely behind. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Viking 45 maneuvers the S-curves at Pacific Raceways running on a hybrid electric-gas engine the VRI team hopes will help it reach its goal of achieving 100 miles per gallon in fuel economy. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Viking 45 maneuvers the S-curves at Pacific Raceways running on a hybrid electric-gas engine the VRI team hopes will help it reach its goal of achieving 100 miles per gallon in fuel economy. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
Viking 45 maneuvers the S-curves at Pacific Raceways running on a hybrid electric-gas engine the VRI team hopes will help it reach its goal of achieving 100 miles per gallon in fuel economy. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern
(Foreground to background) Andrew Brady tries to get a quick nap in prior to eating as fellow team member Jonathan Bremer threatens to pour water on the back of his neck. Photo by Jon Bergman | University Communications intern