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Lafayette’s Formula One racecar team didn’t win its first Society of Automotive Engineers’ Formula SAE West competition, but that wasn’t its goal.
According to adviser Jeffrey Helm, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, the rookie team had its sights set on completing all competition events and learning ways to improve the car’s design. He believes the team accomplished its objectives.
“One of the great things about the competition is we were able to see other schools’ cars and get a feel for things we can improve on,” says Helm. “While the team did a fantastic job realizing their main goals, it was clear that the current car weighed more than its competitors. In addition the team got a better feel for the qualities that are sought for the static design judging. These are two areas that the next team will have to address in the design and construction of next year’s car.”
The competition, held June 14-17 at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., included 48 college and university teams from across the globe. There were representatives from the Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Washington, Texas A&M, Michigan State, University of Wollongong in Australia, Sophia University in Japan, and many others.
The Lafayette team placed 25th overall, and finished second out of 10 first-year teams. It also accomplished its goal of completing all competition components including an autocross course, skid-pan (cornering) test, acceleration and braking test, a fuel economy race, design judging, and a safety inspection. Only half of the 48 teams finished all the events.
The 13 mechanical engineering seniors on the team participated as part of a two-semester mechanical engineering “capstone” experience. A handful of juniors and sophomores were also part of the team. Helm says they got the opportunity to work on the sort of long-term project that they would be asked to handle as working engineers. Several of this year’s seniors participated on a team last year that built a car but did not enter the competition.
The senior team members, who all graduated in May, are: Greg Swiatocha, Daniel Nardo, Charlie Mellina, Peter Wells, Tom Phelan, Stephen McFarlane, Mike Litman, Nurrani Alli, Jim Helms, Erin Githens, Jeff Monico, Mike Gibson, Mathew Ingraham.
“This has been a fantastic experience for the students,” says Helm. “How many times do you get to build a racing car from scratch and then get a chance to put it to the test in a competition with teams from across the world?”
Helm says the one obstacle the team must overcome in the upcoming school year is the overall size and scope of the project. With a full year dedicated to the car, carving out and implementing a realistic plan is just as important as the actual design. Though he is confident his team will be up to the task due to the experience gained at the national competition.
“It is important that the student designers keep in mind details as small as the proper size of a bolt while at the same time keeping the overall design true to the goals of the project,” Helm says. “I have no doubt that the next team will be able to significantly improve the performance of the Lafayette formula car.”