The time had come. First Sandstorm's strobe light started flashing. Then the 85 dB audible alarm came on, meant to warn anyone whose path it crossed that this vehicle had no driver. Finally the flag was waved and it charged out of the launch chute like it knew where it was going and it wanted to get there quickly. The crowd cheered. We felt like history was being made. We watched nervously as Sandstorm made its first turns and circled around the Slash-X, then headed out into the desert with three helicopters giving chase.