Blasting through the course at Formula SAE 2008.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Wong.

News!

8/6/08

School starts in less than a month, which means we will be starting on our new car as soon as possible.ï ¿ ½ If your new to WSU, or just found out about Formula SAE, we would like to see you on the team.ï ¿ ½ Pay a visit to our team page and contact one of us.ï ¿ ½

5/31/08

5/13/08-5/19/08

This is the week we waited all year for, the main competition im Detroit Michigan at the Michigan International Speedway.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ We competed against 121 teams from all over the world.

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This is how we got everything to Michigan, picture was taken next to Lake Michigan.ï ¿ ½ The second picture is once the car was unloaded on the first day.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ It poured rain, luckily we had a canopy.

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Some pictures taken from the second day of competition.ï ¿ ½ The first picture is of the tilt test.ï ¿ ½ They do this test to check for fluid leaks.ï ¿ ½ The second picture is of our car being weighed.ï ¿ ½ The 2008 car weighs 481 lbs.

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The first picture is of our car sitting next to the ZR1 Corvette concept car that GM brought to show everyone.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ All the major car manufacturers in Detroit brought all sorts of expensive cars.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ Our car was also painted with actual "Corvette yellow" paint.ï ¿ ½ The second picture shows the stickers we received proving that our passed certain requirements.ï ¿ ½ The bottom set of stickers was from last years competition in California.

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Here are a few pictures at some of the races.ï ¿ ½ The first picture has several cars lined up ready to go out on the track.

4/26/08ï ¿ ½ We got a lot installed today.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ Took our new brake rotors that were water jetted and fitted them to the hubs, they will be broke in this weekend at the SCCA race.

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Put together a new brake light with the ever popular "shocker" symbol.

The baffle from two weeks ago worked great, but being made from aluminum melted under the extreme temperatures.ï ¿ ½ This is a new baffle made of titanium.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ There is still testing and modifications to be done before it will help us pass sound tech.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ We also have our stack of new Goodyear tires ready for the race in Detroit.

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It was suppose to hail........ï ¿ ½and our tiny shop can fit 5 vehicles if positioned properly.ï ¿ ½

4/12/08ï ¿ ½ We are getting ready for the main competition that is almost exactly a month from this weekend.ï ¿ ½ Added a nice touch to the tachometer with its custom WSU Tach face.

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We also needed to figure out how to make our aftermarket exhust pass the sound test.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ We used a dB (decible) meter to measure theï ¿ ½amount of noise.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ In order to pass it must be under 110dB.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ We devised a baffle system that utilizes the existing exhaust, as well as having the baffle to reduce the noise level to a legal state.ï ¿ ½ (Note: without any exhaust, the engine at 10,000rpm maxed out the dB meter at 126dB.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ Im sure it was louder but we dont know how loud.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ For those that dont understand how loud that is, its loud.ï ¿ ½ *Earplugs required)

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3/29/07 We finally have the car back together and it is running well.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ We went to the Salina SCCA race and practiced against several schools.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ There was quite a turn out for FSAE cars since most schools brought some of their previous cars to practice with.ï ¿ ½ It will be nice once we have several old cars to play with as well.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ Here is some pictures of the raceday.ï ¿ ½ Only problem we had was our chain broke, hope to have it fixed in time to dyno this friday.

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Mustangs didnt have a chance.

2/16/08 There has been lots of activity in the shop lately.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ We have been working on lots of major projects like the new sproter and differential unit, andï ¿ ½projectsï ¿ ½like our new custom made throttle body all made in house by a team member.

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Check out the new location for our starter button.

Other activity has been some work on the revised wiring harness and more work to get the wings usable for this car.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ If all goes well we should have the car running (but not back together) within the next few weeks.

1/30/08 SGA approved our budget for the 2008 school year.ï ¿ ½ We thank WSU and SGAï ¿ ½forï ¿ ½help withï ¿ ½funding.

1/13/08ï ¿ ½ A lot has happened over the Christmas break.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ We have been designing and building many items for the 2008 car.ï ¿ ½ The first thing we worked on was a new shifter design.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ It is made from billet aluminum and has been moved to the inside of the frame instead of the outside, which exposed our hand too much in a collision.

We have also redesigned the front roll cage structure to be lighter and allow more foot room.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ Before we had almost twice as much tubing which should add up to about half as much weight asï ¿ ½before.

We also purchased a new sprotor and chain.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ The complete assembly is much lighter than the stock chain.ï ¿ ½ The differential is being modified to fit the new sprotor.

The rest of the parts are on order.ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½ We plan on replacing all non crucial bolts with aluminum ones and the nuts with a thinner nut.ï ¿ ½ Some of the tubing for the 2009 car came, and many more items are on their way.ï ¿ ½ Looks like we have enough to keep us busy for a while.

11/13/07 We attended the last autocross of the season on Sunday in Salina.ï ¿ ½ Had plenty of fun, unfortunately that's the last one until March.

Here areï ¿ ½VIDEOS of Scott Jones and Nick Deneault Racing.

11/6/07ï ¿ ½ï ¿ ½We started our wind tunnel testing today in the Beech Wind Tunnel.ï ¿ ½ Cant give out too much of our secret info.

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11/3/07ï ¿ ½ We have been working on our carbon fiber wings.ï ¿ ½ On monday November 5th we are scheduled to do testing in the WSU wind tunnel so check back for some information and some pictures of us testing the design.

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10/27/07ï ¿ ½ We've completed a lot of design work recently, the 2009 frame and suspension are nearly complete.ï ¿ ½ Frame build is scheduled to start before January.ï ¿ ½ Once the 2007 Solo season ends, we have a few frame modifications to complete on the current car.ï ¿ ½ The winter looks to be very productive for us, stay tuned for more information.ï ¿ ½

To see previous updates from past years visit our Archives Page

The Formula SAEï ¿ ½ competition is for SAE student members to conceive, design, fabricate, and compete with small formula-style racing cars. The restrictions on the car frame and engine are limited so that the knowledge, creativity, and imagination of the students are challenged. The cars are built with a team effort over a period of about one year and are taken to the annual competition for judging and comparison with approximately 120 other vehicles from colleges and universities throughout the world. The end result is a great experience for young engineers in a meaningful engineering project as well as the opportunity of working in a dedicated team effort

- Taken from the SAE's Formula SAEï ¿ ½ webpage