 Nine months of hard work by UW mechanical engineering seniors was rewarded when the scaled-down autocross-type race car they designed and built earned two awards at the 1995 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Formula Car Competition held May 18-21 in Detroit, Michigan. The car won the VRP Recyclability Award, placing first out of 84 cars entered in the competition. This award, which recognizes success in using recycled materials in vehicle design and construction, includes a $1,000 prize. The car also received second place in the McKenna Industries Best Prototype Fabrication competition, a well-deserved recognition of the superior craftsmanship and attention to detail displayed by the UW team in constructing Car #11.
The road to Detroit began in autumn 1994 when students enrolled in ME 495, a three-quarter senior design course taught by Professor Dale E. Calkins. The students were given guidelines to follow in constructing an operational prototype race car to be entered in the competition. The car was required to meet high performance standards in areas such as acceleration, braking, handling, and fuel economy, and the cost of producing the car could not exceed $8,000.
The class divided into teams working on areas such as brakes and steering, engine, suspension, etc. Autumn quarter was devoted to design, winter quarter to fabrication of parts and assembly of components, and spring quarter to final assembly, testing, and the competition itself.
Twenty-seven students accompanied the car to Detroit for the competition, which consisted of three static (design) and five dynamic (driving) events. Despite some difficulty with the fuel intake system, Car #11 completed all events and placed a respectable 26th overall. Looking back, the class realized that they enjoyed the nine months of hard work, accomplished many goals, and gained valuable experience along the way. The first place award and the $1,000 check reinforced their feelings of pride in the simple, inexpensive, expertly-crafted race car which they designed, built, and raced.
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