Engineers at UE Take Formula Car to Competition at Ford Proving Grounds
May 15, 2006

Hitting 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds in their purple and orange fiberglass formula car, a group of UE engineering students said they believe this, among other work they have performed on the car, will give them a chance to finish highly in the upcoming Formula SAE competition at the Ford Motor Company’s proving grounds this week. The engineers will pack up their car and hit the road Tuesday, May 16, heading to the annual Formula SAE Competition May 17-21 in Romeo, Michigan.

The Formula SAE competition is for Society of Automotive Engineering student members to conceive, design, fabricate, and compete with small formula-style racing cars. According to the SAE website, 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 as a team, over a period of about a year. This year there are 140 teams from across the nation and around the world in the competition.

Ian McGiffin, a sophomore at UE and the project build manager, said teams will be judged on design, presentation, quality, cost and how well their car competes in four races – acceleration, skidpad, autocross and endurance. “This year’s car is a complete re-design of the 2005 car. A new frame was designed and built…and a completely redesigned suspension was also made – which will greatly improve handling at the competition,” McGiffin said. “The same Honda 600cc motorcycle engine that was used in the 2005 car was used, but the ignition and fuel mapping were reprogrammed for more power. A completely new custom exhaust was also built to increase horsepower, as well.

“Just in case anyone is wondering how fast this 2006 car is – it will go 0-60 in less than four seconds,” McGiffin said. “That is faster than the Dodge Viper and the new Corvette!”

The FSAE Formula Car competition is being held just north of Detroit, Mich., at Ford Motor Company's proving grounds. This is the first year for the competition to be at this site. This competition is an international competition bringing in teams from all over the world, including Japan, Australia, South America, and all over Europe. In 2006 there will be 140 teams competing in both static and dynamic competitions. Teams are judged on design, presentation quality, cost, and how well there car competes in 4 races: Acceleration, Skidpad, Autocross, and Endurance Race.

The UE Formula Car was made possible by donations and help by the University of Evansville faculty, UE Business and Engineering Advisory Council, UE Student Development Fund, UE Bookstore; Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana; Society of Automotive Engineers –Indiana Section; R & M Welding; S & S Machining; BGF Industries; Society of Plastic Engineers – Tri-State Section; Afco Racing; Earl’s Performance Parts of Indianapolis; CST Composites; Whirlpool Corporation of Evansville; Total Performance; Superior Essex of Vincennes; Heritage Federal Credit Union; Bob Luegers’ Motors of Jasper; and Industrial Contractors, Inc.

Students involved in the project and their areas of responsibility include:

• Ian McGiffin – project build manager and one of the drivers
• David Mills – project design manager and team leader
• Tamara Esche – one of the drivers and work on the gas tank, budget, hotel bookings
• Nathan Schmitt – work on electrical wiring and final assembly
• Adam Schroeder – body work
• Steven Burch – work on exhaust, ProE drafting
• Nick Wathan – work on the powdercoating and professional welding
• Emerson Barnett – parts manager, ProE drafting work
• Todd Chandler – one of the drivers and work on cooling, suspension fabrication, drivetrain.
• Ryan Egbert – one of the drivers and work on suspension fabrication, electrical wiring
• Michael Hughes – one of the drivers and work on the body
• Dustin Jones – work on the brakes and steering
• Lee Riddle – work on sheet metal and safety shielding.