Vancouver’s Pacific International Auto and Light Truck Show is
the first pit-stop for a team of 10 UBC Mechanical and Electrical
Engineering students revving up for the Formula Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) competition in May in Detroit.
The auto show, which takes place March 26 to April 4 at B.C. Place,
is an opportunity to display the award-winning Indy-style race car
they built for last year’s international competition and to say
thanks to the more than 30 local sponsors who fuel the project.
The 250-kilogram UBC vehicle is capable of accelerating from 0-100
kilometres per hour in less than five seconds and reaching a top
speed of 150 kilometres per hour.
“The competition appeals to students who want to be the best engineers
they can be by getting as much experience as possible outside the
classroom,” says team leader Brian Ward, a third-year Mechanical
Engineering student. “One of last year’s team members is being interviewed
by five formula race teams and others have gone on to exciting careers
in automotive engineering.”
The Formula SAE competition involves the design, construction and
dynamic testing of an open-wheeled racing car. Staged since 1981,
it attracts about 100 teams from universities across North America
and Europe. UBC students have entered each year since 1990 and for
the past two years have earned the top prize for electronics.
The Formula SAE UBC team project is run entirely by students, including
fund-raising. Their dream budget is $55,000, but they operate on
less, which is part of the challenge. The current team of 10 is
busy with everything from engine testing and chassis analysis to
constructing displays and maintaining a Web site at http://www.mech.ubc.ca/~sae/links.html.
At the competition, eight separately judged stages determine whether
various performance and design objectives have been met. Static
events include design and cost analysis. Among the dynamic events
are acceleration, fuel economy and endurance.
Restrictions on vehicle design ensure that team knowledge, ingenuity
and imagination is challenged. Driver safety is paramount. The engine
air-intake is limited to reduce power output and cars must meet
strict side and front impact and roll-over standards.
“To keep the competition fresh no car can be driven in more than
two competitions, so the biggest job every year is finding new sponsors,”
says Ward. “Space is donated to us at the auto show so we can thank
our sponsors personally and talk to the interested public as well
as pick up tips from experts.”
Major sponsors of the team include UBC’s Dept. of Mechanical Engineering,
Kawasaki Canada and Magna International.
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