Ferrari Museum Shines a Light on Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Solar cars designed and constructed by students currently on display at renowned Ferrari Museum in Italy.

A temporary exhibition of student-crafted solar vehicles is currently available for viewing at the legendary Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy. Local students that took part in the international Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019 get to see their clever creations on display. And these re-imagined vehicles offer a fascinating insight into the future of utilizing solar energy.

Students of the Alfredo Dino Ferrari Higher Education Institution have created a range of alternative power vehicles. On display, a solar-powered four-seater named the Emilia 4, which is set to compete in the “Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019,” a competition that crosses Australia and takes place in October. The Emilia 4 will be competing against other vehicles created by students from around the globe.

Also on display are other alternative energy cars designed and constructed completely by the students of the Alfredo Dino Ferrari Higher Education Institution. Of which includes the Emilia 3, the winner of the American “Solar Challenge” of 2018.

The vehicles are futuristic and even experimental, but cleverly designed and engineered.

This showing of solar craftsmanship is meant to symbolize the historic link between Ferrari manufacturing and the Alfredo Dino Ferrari Higher Education Institution, ounded in 1963 by Enzo Ferrari in an effort to give future generations access to highly specialized training within the automotive arena.

Ferrari named the institution in honor of his first son, Alfredo ‘Dino’ Ferrari. ‘Dino’ a bright young talent at Ferrari who tragically passed away at age 24. But his legacy lives on in these students, paving the way into the future with bright minds and exciting ideas.

The exhibition is on display at the Ferrari Maranello Museum through August 15. For more information on the Bridgestone Solar World Challenge, check out their website.

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Caitlin Shook

Raised around her family’s colorful imports and antique mechanic shop, and with a car museum as a classroom. Yes, really, she was homeschooled out of a car museum. She still has problems with fractions. Caitlin is most at home wandering alone in a car museum or popping a beer behind the desk of her father’s mechanic shop, Shook Enterprises.

With a constant flow of beloved antique and classic sports cars running through the family business, it’s no wonder the origin of her automobile passion.

In efforts of making Caitlin less of a troublemaking brat during her teenage years, her father found a 1976 Porsche 912e to absorb her time. She, with the expert supervision of Steve Shook and Sidney Arnold, began a total restoration. Engine overhaul, all mechanicals, EVERY DAMN THING.

After that, she would soon learn the mind-bending qualities of auto bodywork. Taking the 912e down to metal while branding herself with a heat gun multiple times. Plus, did you know airplane acid hurts like the dickens if you get it a piece of curled paint soaked in it stuck between your leg and your sock? It does. Once down to metal, it was clear the Porsche 912e had been applied Bondo by a Jackson Pollock admirer. Anyways, enough about the restoration.

Now she spends her time good spiritedly harassing mechanics at the family shop, drinking whatever beer is in the fridge, and creating informal YouTube videos on beloved cars to post on The Bad Blonde CARS + TRAVEL.

She hopes you like her work, and if you don’t, best you keep it to yourself.

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