While the Class of 2005 was getting ready for graduation, RPI’s Formula SAE team headed off to Pontiac, Michigan to participate in the international competition held in the parking lot of the Pontiac Silverdome from May 18-22. The pervading goal of the competition is to build an affordable formula style car that can be used at weekly autocrosses for an entire season (roughly half a year). Different events test ed to see if each team has reached this goal.
The events during tournament are divided into two categories: static and dynamic. The static events include cost, design, and presentation. While the team is constructing the car, they keep records of the materials used and time spent. All of this information is compiled into a cost report. The judges look to see who can build a good car for the least amount of money. RPI placed 10th, with 88 points, in this event.
The design event focuses mostly on the engineering of the car. Each team is given a chance to display the parts of the car they custom designed. RPI showcased their intake system, differential, and body design. They placed 14th with 100 points, the maximum points a team can earn for design preliminaries. Although they were disappointed that they didn’t make design finals, the team decided the extra time spent in the design tent for finals wasn’t worth the extra couple of points that could be gained by being in finals.
Presentation consists of “selling the car” to the judges. One team member puts on a suit and tie and uses pictures and statistics to present the car to the judges, who are posing as prospective autocrossers. This year’s presenter was Dan Gurick ’05. RPI usually does well in this part of the competition but, unfortunately, the team only placed 35th with 57 points.
The dynamic events are more interesting and fun to watch. In these events, the team proves that the car they designed and built actually works. The first two events were skid pad and acceleration. Skid pad is a tight figure eight that tests the car’s ability to make sharp turns at high speeds. Two drivers each get two chances to go around the pad and the best time out of the four runs is recorded. RPI’s two drivers were Patrick DeGrosse, Jr. ’06, and Steven Jaffe ’05. RPI placed 29th with 31 points. Jaffe had the fastest time of 5.517 seconds. Acceleration is driving as fast as possible from a stop for 50 yards. Just as in skid pad, there are two drivers that get two chances each. Jaffe and graduate student Jeremy McNamara were the drivers for this event and Jaffe again had the fastest time of 4.497 seconds. This gave RPI a 29th place finish with 52.6 points. The winning time was 4.079 seconds held by Texas A&M.
After skid pad and acceleration, the next event is autocross. Autocross is a course containing multiple tight turns and weaving. Two drivers get two runs through the course. The driver is not allowed to drive the course for a practice round. Inness Eisele ’05 and Jaffe drove in this event. Eisele had the fastest time of 61.95 seconds, giving RPI a 34th place finish with 80 points.
The last and most grueling event of competition is endurance. The car has to run for 11 kilometers, stop and be turned off for a drivers switch, turn back on, and run for another 11 kilometers. While the car is in the middle of the event, the team cannot tighten bolts or fix any problems; no tools are allowed with the drivers in the pit. For the past five years, RPI has not been able to finish endurance. This year, however, RPI’s car completed the event with a 15th place finish of 274 points. Heavy celebration followed.
The major accomplishment of the team was finishing every event. Their overall placing was 15th out of 150 schools. Last year the team didn’t place in the top 50 so everyone was very pleased with this year’s standing.
The competition winner was Cornell. RPI’s team is already planning to take the title from them next year.
Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Formula SAE team.
