Rensselaer Magazine, Fall 2003: At Rensselaer

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Engineering

Formula SAE Team Takes Second Place

Rensselaer’s Formula SAE team drove its student-designed and built racecar to a second-place finish at Formula Student, a worldwide collegiate design and engineering competition held annually in the United Kingdom.

“This was truly a team effort,” said team member Dan Gurick ’05. “We wouldn’t be here today without the generosity of our institute and corporate sponsors, the guidance of our faculty adviser, Dr. Somerscales, and the countless nights and weekends put in by our team members.”

Immediately after final exams in May, the team headed to Pontiac, Mich., to take part in Formula SAE, a national competition. Technical troubles led to a disappointing 51st-place finish out of the 135 teams this year. With just over a month to go before Formula Student in the U.K., the team set its sights on making repairs, testing, and tuning.

For Formula SAE, students design, fabricate, and compete with small formula-style race cars. Restrictions are placed on the car frame and engine so the students’ knowledge, creativity, and imagination are tested. The vehicles are judged in three different categories: static inspection and engineering design, solo performance trials, and high-performance track endurance.

Thirty-eight universities from North America, Europe, and Asia competed in the event. Rensselaer was the only team representing the United States.

Rensselaer Magazine: Fall 2003
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