Swiss crewmember gets in a spot of sunrise ironing, and electric shaving with the help of an electric generator on the road at the Pentax Solar Car Race. November 8, South of Glendambo, South Australia. (1987) The Pentax Solar Car Race the first international solar-powered car race. The event began in Darwin, Northern Territories on November 1st, 1987 and finished in Adelaide, South Australia completing 1,950 miles.