Formula SAE
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Formula SAE is a student design competition sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers. The concept behind Formula SAE is that a fictional manufacturing company has contracted a student design team to develop a small Formula-style race car. The prototype race car is to be evaluated for its potential as a production item. The target marketing group for the race car is the non-professional weekend autocross racer. Of all the engineering competitions, Formula SAE is by far the largest and most competitive.
During competition, the prototype race car is judged in the following areas with the according points available in each area:
| Design Event | 150 |
| Cost & Manufacturing Analysis Event | 100 |
| Presentation Event | 75 |
| Acceleration Event | 75 |
| Skid-pad Event | 50 |
| Autocross Event | 150 |
| Fuel Economy Event | 50 |
| Endurance Event | 350 |
| Total Points Possible | 1,000 |
From: Bob Woods, 1996 Formula SAE Rules, (Warrendale, PA) : Educational Relations SAE International, p. 4.
In addition to these events, various sponsors of the competition provide awards for superior design accomplishments. For example, best use of M-85 methanol fuel, innovative use of electronics, recycliablity, crash worthiness, and analytical approach to design are some of the awards available.
Over the past twenty years Formula SAE has gained the respect of the automotive industry and professional race teams. Formula SAE encompasses all aspects of a business including research, design, manufacturing, testing, developing, marketing, management, and fund raising. Formula SAE takes students out if the class room and puts them in the real world. All too often engineering students graduate without the practical knowledge of how to design. Some of the worlds largest companies understand that fact, and as a result have an interest in Formula SAE.
Big companies, such as General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, all feel that this event acts as a screening process for them. Over three days, their staff can interact with more than 1000 student engineers. Working in teams of anywhere between two and 30, these students have proved themselves to be capable of producing a functioning prototype vehicle. (Dean Case, Student Talent, Racecar Engineering, Vol. 5 No. 3 (England): p. 35)
In addition the automotive industry, professional racing has taken notice of Formula SAE. The volunteers for the design judging event include some the racing industries most prominent engineers and consultants including the late Carroll Smith, Bill Mitchell, Jack Auld, John LePlante, and Bryan Kubala. Involvement in Formula SAE means job opportunity.
Today, the competition has expanded and now includes a number of spinoff events in addition to the main Formula SAE competition in Detroit. Formula Student is a similar SAE-sanctioned event in the UK, as well as Formula AustralAsia taking place in Australia. Due to rapidly growing popularity of the North American event, a Formula SAE West division is planned to take place in California beginning in 2006.