Lopatcong middle school team taking solar car on the road Monday, June 04, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times LOPATCONG TWP. | By this weekend, three middle school students will be Boston-bound to race their homemade solar car. Eighth-graders Eric Gallant, Jerry Chang and sixth-grader Missy Rouse will compete Sunday in the Northeast Regional Junior Solar Car Sprint Championship. Their car, Double Decker, finished fourth in the speed competition in a state tournament. That qualified the team for the 15-state regional competition. Adviser Scott Yerger, a sixth-grade science and math teacher, said he's hands off with the kids as far as design and construction go. It was up to the kids to create the frame for the car, which is no bigger than a high-top sneaker. "They get gears, wheels and a motor," Yerger said. "I want them to think." The program costs the school nothing because of sponsorships through TransOptions, a public and commercial commuter advocate. TransOptions also runs the local races. Students begin working on their cars in late January and race in the beginning of May. They meet weekly after school to build their cars. They can be built from just about anything including Styrofoam, wood scraps, tin cans or cardboard. A small solar-panel powered engine propels the car down a rope track during the races. Students attach 9-by-5 inch solar panels to the tops of the cars. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com.