Team Information
Friday, February 29, 2008 - RF08 Takes Shape
WHAT IS FORMULA SAE?
The Formula SAE competition (held annually in Michigan, USA) is a competition which consists of dynamic and static events. The dynamic events include an endurance race, an autocross run, an acceleration run and a skid pad exercise. In the endurance race the car must last 25 min (approximately 22 miles) in race conditions making one pit stop for a driver change. After the endurance race the teams are given additional points based on their fuel consumption. The autocross run is a two lap run of a track which has never been driven on by the drivers. The drivers are allowed to walk the track in advance but are not allowed to take their car out for a practice run. The best time of the two laps is given a ranking versus all other cars entered in the competition and appropriate points are awarded. The acceleration run is simply the fastest in which the car can acceleration from a complete stop to 75 metres. The skidpad points are distributed based how fast a driver can get around a "figure 8" track. Before any of the dynamic events can be run the cars are sent through a gruelling technical inspection in which the car must meet the specific regulations of the competition. After that, the car must pass a test to see if the car can safely handle two g's without flipping over. Then car is put in front of a panel of judges where our team designers must answer very technical and very specific questions regarding the design of the car. Also a thorough cost report and marketing presentation are submitted for additional points. In the end the summation of all the points from the individual competitions decides the final awarded position of the team.
This year, the Formula SAE competition will be held at the Michigan International Speedway from May 14th to 18th. This track is commonly known to hold NASCAR and Indycar races. The Ryerson Formula SAE team is very excited for this competition as the team feels the car created this yeah will be better than all previous years. Last year in the Michigan the team struggled with engine problems which lead to a disappointing 75th of 125 teams. However, the team rebounded in its second competition of 2007 held in England, UK where they battled through more reliability problems to finish a respectable 31st of 90 teams. Overall the team learned last season that they had a very fast car which should have finished a lot higher in the standings had it not be for the reliability issues. The RF-08 is an iteration of last year's car in which detailed attention has been given to the areas which caused reliability problems last year. The team is very confident in its ability to bounce back and return to the form which the team was in during the 2005 year (which included a 10th place finish out of 140 teams worldwide). Also the team is pleased to announce that they will be returning to England's Formula Student competition held at Silverstone raceway commonly known as the home of Formula One's British Grand Prix. The team is also please to announce that not only will they be representing Ryerson University in England, the Ryerson Formula SAE team will be the only team representing Canada as no other Canadian teams are registered for the competition.
This year, the Formula SAE competition will be held at the Michigan International Speedway from May 14th to 18th. This track is commonly known to hold NASCAR and Indycar races. The Ryerson Formula SAE team is very excited for this competition as the team feels the car created this yeah will be better than all previous years. Last year in the Michigan the team struggled with engine problems which lead to a disappointing 75th of 125 teams. However, the team rebounded in its second competition of 2007 held in England, UK where they battled through more reliability problems to finish a respectable 31st of 90 teams. Overall the team learned last season that they had a very fast car which should have finished a lot higher in the standings had it not be for the reliability issues. The RF-08 is an iteration of last year's car in which detailed attention has been given to the areas which caused reliability problems last year. The team is very confident in its ability to bounce back and return to the form which the team was in during the 2005 year (which included a 10th place finish out of 140 teams worldwide). Also the team is pleased to announce that they will be returning to England's Formula Student competition held at Silverstone raceway commonly known as the home of Formula One's British Grand Prix. The team is also please to announce that not only will they be representing Ryerson University in England, the Ryerson Formula SAE team will be the only team representing Canada as no other Canadian teams are registered for the competition.
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