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110 Worldwide Universities Prepare Engines for SAE Competition

6 May 1999

110 Worldwide Universities Prepare Engines for SAE Annual Competition in Detroit

    WARRENDALE, Pa., May 5 -- Formula-style vehicles of assorted
shapes, sizes and colors will assemble at the South Parking Lot of the Pontiac
Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan on May 20 for the opening of the Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE) International Formula SAE(R) collegiate design
competition.
    Built by teams from 110 universities in 36 states, 6 Canadian provinces,
Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom, the cars will vie against each
other in a four-day design competition for cash prizes totaling more than
$38,000.
    General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company and DaimlerChrysler are
consortium sponsors of the event for the sixth year in a row.
    Car 27, from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, will defend its title
against archrival Car 99, built by The University of Texas at Arlington, that
had won in 1996-97.
    All cars will compete in a series of eight static and dynamic events with
a possible point total of 1000.  Static events will take place on Thursday,
May 20, with vehicle presentation, engineering design and cost analysis.  On
Friday, May 21, the first dynamic events will be held with the acceleration
run and skid pad test in the morning and the autocross in the afternoon.
    Dynamic events conclude on Saturday, May 22 with fuel economy and
endurance track events that will test the vehicle's design on a 13-mile race
against the clock.
    The Formula SAE(R) competition enables engineering students to conceive,
design, fabricate and compete with small formula-style racing cars.  The
restrictions on the vehicle chassis and engines challenge the knowledge,
creativity and imagination of the students.
    Formula SAE(R) is one of eight collegiate design competitions held each
year by SAE throughout the United States.  Other events include two Aero
Design(R) events for aeronautical engineers, three Mini Bajas for off-road
vehicles, a Walking Machine Decathlon(TM) for computer and mechanical
engineers and a Supermileage(R) contest.
    The public is invited to attend Friday's and Saturday's events.  Admission
is free and parking is available in the South Lot adjacent to the Formula SAE
track.
    For further information on Formula SAE and other SAE collegiate design
competitions, visit the SAE website at http://www.sae.org.