WHAT IS FSAE?
Formula SAE is the largest engineering competition in the world. Over 500 college teams compete to design and build the best car on the track. The teams operate as a fictitious business to sell an autocross car to the masses. The cars are judged in design, business, cost, fuel economy, skid-pad, acceleration, autocross and endurance.
ABOUT OUR CAR
Our car is built from the ground up by our team. Almost everything on the car is designed and built by students. We use the engine from a Suzuki GSXR600 street bike which is restricted to about 80 horsepower. Our car weighs in at 420 lbs without a driver. This allows for an acceleration 0-60 in under 3 seconds (faster than most Ferraris and Lamborghinis) and max cornering at 2.5 G’s
Cal Poly Pomona Formula SAE has been a recognized extracurricular club on campus since 1988. We have competed in over 40 competitions in our history and have taken top honors multiple times. This past year we placed 6th overall in Lincoln Nebraska, and placed second in the endurance event. We are currently ranked 1st in California, 5th in the US and 24th in the world out of over 500 teams
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF OUR PROJECT?
The Formula SAE team at Cal Poly Pomona wants to improve on a previously strong showing at the FSAE competition in Lincoln, Nebraska in 2013 where we took 6th place overall. Aside from competing in the Lincoln competition, the team will also be taking a new and improved 2014 car to competitions in both Michigan and Germany. This is the first year where the team will simultaneously have two fully-operational race cars at the same time. Between building and maintaining two cars and traveling to three competitions our expenses are higher than ever.
WHAT DO WE DO?
The Cal Poly Pomona Formula SAE team is a completely student run club on campus that offers students an excellent opportunity to expand and apply their knowledge beyond the classroom. Not only is engineering taught in the classroom, but also through hands-on experience where a passion for learning is what drives us. Formula SAE is about applying and expanding upon everything we've learned in the classroom. As a byproduct we get much more experience going through the full engineering design process. We are required to conceptualize, design, analyze, manufacture and test our final product, a process that is not required in the traditional classroom environment.
The Cal Poly Pomona Formula SAE team is very diverse in terms of disciplines. Though most of the team members are mechanical engineering students, the team is also comprised of aerospace engineers, electrical engineers, and business majors. As with any race team, the goal for each year is to go to competition and take first place. To achieve this goal, we have to apply and expand upon many concepts we've learned in the classroom. Students involved in our club get much more experience going through the engineering design process.
This project is a huge benefit for everyone involved in it. With your support, you're not only investing in our team but helping our team members get the most out of our college experience as well as become better engineers.
HOW WILL THE FUNDS BE USED?
With three competitions and around twenty club members travel costs are one of our biggest costs. Our car needs to be shipped to each competition as well, with international shipping to Germany costing significantly more than shipping within the United States. If we are unable to attain funding our opportunity to compete in Germany may not be realized. Our team members have put thousands of hours into research, design, manufacturing and testing, often sacrificing sleep in order to accomplish our goals.
Our team has not been able to compete in an international competition in 4 years due to financial constraints. Due to the success of the 2013 car we have decided to pursue international competition for the 2014 season.
Cal Poly Pomona Formula SAE operates as a non-profit team, meaning such an extensive schedule is usually out of the question. Through the help of many generous sponsors we have been able to manufacture two cars to compete with. Now we just need your help in order to travel to these competitions and continue our legacy as one of the best teams in the world.
