RBGAN Internet Cafe: Fri 30 Sept, Day 6 of race

Victoria Square: more cars rolling in today as well as a couple of green buses parked in the square (the Biodiesel and H2 Fuel Cell bus). The Solar cars are lined up and showing off all their glory. Definately worth a visit to come and see the latest technogy in action.

RBGAN Internet Cafe: Thurs 29 Sept, Day 5 of race

Here we are in Victoria Square and the Aurora team have just crossed the finish line - go you Aussies! Chatted to the Aurora team manager who mentioned what a great difference it made being able to use the rbgan for communications whilst on route.

Whilst in the past he would dictate his team reports to a colleague via telephone, this year, with the aid of the rbgan terminal, they were able to upload reports directly to the web, check emails and even web-surf right in the middle of the desert. Revolutionary!

RBGAN Internet Cafe: Wed 28 Sept, Day 4 of race

We have now set up camp in Victoria Square, Adelaide and have witnessed a very happy Nuon team cross the finish line to a sea of orange cheering supporters. We'll be here till Sunday so drop in and visit - we are just near the Panasonic cafe. Bye for now! Diana Minglis Marketing manager

RBGAN Internet Cafe: Mon 26 Sept, Day 2 of race

With all our computers, phones and RBGAN?s batteries recharged we took the opportunity to hit the road early. We left the hotel at 06:10 with a warning to watch for roos at this time of day and we should be in Tennant Creek by midday, some 669klms away. After an hour and a half we stopped for breakfast and fuel at Larrimah, before we were back on the road again. We passed a number of the solar cars on the trip, and they were all making good speed. We arrived in Tennant Creek just before our intended time of 1PM, and found ourselves a shady position, but then found we couldn?t get a decent signal strength, so we had to move out into the hot, unshaded, carpark. Once there we set up for business, but there were few takers as the field had spread out so much, and the majority of the field had already passed the control point, although when we presented ourselves at the control point , we were told, ?Everyone?s been looking for you!? It seems our service has become integral to some of the teams operations. At about 4PM, we drove out of Tennant Creek looking for a ?Welcome to Tennant Creek? sign for the obligatory PR photo, and then returned to town to set up for the evenings Greenfleet display at the Civic Centre. The display went well, and we had a few enquiries from prospective purchasers, as well as a couple of WSC observers taking advantage of the opportunity to do some web surfing

RBGAN Internet Cafe: Sun 25 Sept, Race day

The cafe hit the road early in order to be set up at the Katherine control point before the first cars arrived. We had just completed setting up as the first solar car rolled into the control point, and they had started about 30 minutes behind us, so there is no lack of speed from these machines. Once again there was plenty of use of our facility by the teams and media. As the competitors cycled though the control point, there were many comments from spectators about the cramped conditions in the solar cars, and how the drivers would emerge from the cars saturated with sweat. We handed out plenty of water to the teams (especially the Koreans), and I have no doubt it will be well appreciated. With only 5 solar cars left to arrive, we moved to Ryan Park, on the north side of Katherine, for the arrival of the Green Fleet. We set up the cafe in a wonderfully cool spot in the shade of a tree. While business was initially slow things started to get excited when the cars started to arrive. We met a number of people who came out to the park expecting to see the solar cars only to be disappointed to find that they were not meeting at Ryan park and in fact had already left Katherine and were on the road again. We met up with Monty and Trevor from NT Computer Supplies, in Katherine, for dinner, and ?the best steak you?ll ever have?. I have to say that that claim was lived up to. The steaks at the Golf Club were wonderful.

RBGAN Internet Cafe: Sat 24 Sept. Time Trials

Today was just a great day. We arrived early and set up the cafe, and were instantly approached by teams wanting internet access. It was so interesting being in the pits with all the teams, having an opportunity to see the solar cars up close. Although it is a race, and there can only be one winner, the sheer beauty in the engineering of some of these machines has to be seen to be appreciated, and all the cars are a credit to their respective teams. Watching the time trials was the first time I had seen the cars running, some of them with almost alien sounds, and it was a great thrill. There was, however, work to be done, and one task was to hand out RBGANs to four teams who would be using these as their own internet access. These teams will be doing their own Blogs on this site, and should provide some interesting reading. As I watched the trials, I saw the MIT entry roll while doing approximately 70 Kmh. It was great to hear the driver is OK, and to see that the team was able to fix the car and qualify for the event. Time trials finished about 2PM, and the teams immediately packed up in preparation for the next day, which left us to do the same. We arrived back at the hotel just after the first bounce of the AFL Grand Final. We were two of the very few Swans supporters in a decidedly pro-Eagles bar, but the atmosphere was fantastic, and we watched possibly one of the best Grand Finals of the last 20 years.

RBGAN Internet Cafe: Fri 23 Sept. Day 3

As was the case yesterday, the teams were busy with scrutineering, so although we had a number of people through the cafe, it was still fairly quiet. Again, we were able to assist teams with downloading information, and especially weather forecasts for the next few days. After scrutineering had finished, we moved from the showgrounds to Hidden Valley racetrack, in preparation for the activities there. Friday night was the WSC reception at Parliament house. This was a great opportunity to meet some of the members from the various teams from all over the world. This was followed by dinner with some of the various staff and volunteers who are so invaluable to running an event such as this. Once again, Many thanks to Leanne, Chris and Debbie for their hospitality.

RBGAN Internet Cafe: Thurs 22 Sept. Day 1

Opened the Cafe at 8 AM, and had a few interested people pass by. Most enquiries were about email, but we were able to help one team out by downloading a required solar panel specification sheet. There was a lot of interest by journalists, and team media/PR people about using our facility to send stories and pictures back home. There were many comments about how this had been achieved in the last few years over 2.4K Iridium connections, or similar. Today was fairly quiet, as most teams had scrutineering, and thus had their thoughts occupied elsewhere. The next couple of days, and especially when we start down the highway, should prove more hectic!

Incidentally, At the cafe we have approx 25 cases of water, and although we?ve been going through it ourselves, there?s plenty there. Feel free to drop by, use our cafe, have a chat about the equipment we?re using, and take some free water.