Well, this doesn't have to do with street cars, persay, but Formula SAE is a program that i'm going to be involved with at UCSD in the fall, and I was just wondering if anyone here has any experience with it. Basically, the idea is that a bunch of budding engineers create a tube chassis open wheel club racer that could be marketed for less than 25K. Ours will use a 2003 YZFR6 engine, as i believe there is a 600 CC displacement limit as per the rules. Anyways, just wondering if anyone knows anything about it, or participated. any commentary welcome.

Quick2K

 

I was on the Formula SAE team at SDSU, so becuase you are they bad guys, I'm not saying anything.

Sam

 

Do anything it takes to get behind the wheel of that car. A couple laps in an open-wheeler like that will spoil you forever. I wish I'd gotten involved in Virginia Tech's Formula SAE team when I was there. I've looked into the team here at University of Florida, but I just don't have the time.

 

That program is so much fun, ironically enuff I was involved in the UF program back in 98 i believe. That car was soooo much fun to drive. Definetly spoiled me.

 

I watch the Pomona FSAE car run at auto-x and it looks like a blast. I love how the geeks are downloading data after each run. Also fun to see the difference between drivers in the same car, some fast some not-so-fast (okay, some downright abysmal, "you've got another gear so stop hitting the limiter!").

 

I participated in Formula SAE, and it was great. We even fuel injected our 600CC Honda F3 engine w/ a Haltech ECU. I remember the crappiest part was the restriction on the amount of air that comes into the engine, so your fluid mechanics better be dead nuts when designing the air intake. Design and build for reliability, when you go to the competition at the end of the year, a lot of cars lose because they break. Also, my college was stupid because FSAE was a "senior design" course, and only seniors worked on it. So every year, we re-invented the wheel so to speak. I hope your school is smart, and has the younger kids working on the project, that way there is some sort of legacy as they participate year after year. Good luck, post some pics of your progress.

 

As others have said - be sure to do what it takes to get behind the wheel. I designed the vehicle chassis when I was involved in F-SAE. We used a Honda F3 engine, converted to fuel injected, and blown on by Aerocharger turbo. An SAE car will definitely spoil you.

Just try and stop doing this after a spin ->

NS2000X

 

Think so huh? Wait until you do a few hundred miles in one and see how spoiled you are. Oh, and how sore you are too.

FSAE is great. Like the others have said, ya just gotta get behind the wheel.

 

I'll remember you said that when Octoberfast rolls around .

 

You do that. I'll remember who kicked my ass at the last Octoberfast!