Any Formula SAE alum out there?

[Lemons]

Hey, my name is Chris, and I'm currently a Mechanical Engineering student at CSU, Northridge. I'm working on my senior project building a Formula SAE car, and I was wondering if any of you gearheads have had the chance to do the same. I absolutely love the project, and I am having blast, all while learning so much. We are getting close to finishing the build and soon we will be testing. I would love to hear any other stories or experiences that anyone may have had.

[Beach Cruiser]

I was on the team at Virginia Tech from 88 - 90, I lead the engine development. We took a 600cc Nija and fuel injected and turbo charged it, made more power with the restrictor plate and the turbo than it did with the four carbs! That car won in 1991, in 89, we took 2nd and 4th (we had two cars) Here's a link to the team's page. http://www.vtmotorsports.com/ We had a good shot to win in 90 as well, but it was a rainy weekend and the rain wiped out our fuel injection brainbox. (lesson learned)

From reading the bio on Mark Stielow, sounds like we were there at the same time, 1988. We took 10th with a car built with a borrowed motor, (literally took it out of a teammates bike) and junkyard parts from a vw rabbit. Was great, My senior project was the fuel injection system for the ninja motor. Got an "A"...

[wiedemab]

I worked with the Formula guys at Purdue, but I was focused on the Baja project. I was at Purdue from '98 to '02. Our formula guys were using a CBR600 F3 motor. I tried to get them to turbo it, but they went naturally aspirated. They struggled to get it back to near stock hp numbers with the restricted intake (like 24mm if my memory serves me right).

The Baja boys needed much more help when I started with SAE, so I worked on their team - we had a blast with it!

The complete redesign and fabrication of the Baja car was my Senior Design Project. It beats the hell out of some of the other stupid projects that are given out, that's for sure - Also got an A.

[Lemons]

Mini Baja looks like it would be a lot of fun, but my school hasn't built one in a while. Some students took the last one out for a joyride around campus one night, and it's been dead ever since.

We are using a Yamaha R6 engine, naturally aspirated with a custom aluminum intake, megasquirt ECU, and a very nice titanium header. I've tried to get my hands in just about every part of the car, but my primary job was to design the shocks and sway bars. We are running pushrods and bellcranks, which I was also in charge of designing. These projects really are great. You can check out our car on our website:

www.ecs.csun.edu/~sae/2007/

One of my favorite parts is the carbon fiber chassis, it turned out really nice.

[pdq67]

They never had that back in the early '70's when I was in school, but I think MU here in Columbia, MO has a group that's into it. Anyway, I saw onna their cars one time over on Campus.

pdq67

[Lemons]

These cars are really amazing, and I think they would fit in really well with this crowd. They pull 1.6-2.0 lateral g's, 0-60 in about 4.0 sec, and amazing braking. I got a chance to drive out car from 2005, and I was absolutely blown away. They turn, accelerate, and stop so well. Plus, everything is designed and built by the students. It's an amazing way to learn.

Chris

[pdq67]

My elective Automotive Engineering Class back then didn't even have a textbook, we were that far back in the Stone Age!!

Our Engineering Computer was an old IBM-360A1 jobber and the Hp-35 hadn't come out yet...

And yes, you could tell the Engine guys b/c we wore our slide rules on our belts!!!

He, He!!

Bttt, yes, excellent way to teach the pups!!!!!

pdq67

[Lemons]

My professor often tells stories about those old days, slide rules and all. He looks back and laughs.