UA’s Formula SAE Car Ready to Race

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –Gentlemen, start your engines! The University of Alabama Society of Automotive Engineers team is revving the engine of their Formula SAE car for an international competition in Detroit, Mich., May 16-20.

The competition, hosted by the “Big Three” American automobile manufacturers, challenges SAE student members to conceive, design, fabricate and compete with small formula-style racing cars. The cars are built with a team effort over a one-year period, and are taken to the annual competition for judging with 140 other vehicles from colleges and universities around the world.

The principle behind the design competition is to tackle a real world problem and challenge students to solve issues just as project team members do in the current automotive industry. Therefore, the car must have high performance in terms of its acceleration, braking and handling qualities. The car must also be low in cost, easy to maintain and reliable.

“This competition provides students with an invaluable opportunity for teamwork, development of engineering skills, and exposure to the business world,” said Dr. William Sutton, professor of mechanical engineering and faculty adviser to the SAE student chapter.

Joel McKay, SAE team captain and a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, has focused on stiffening the car’s frame, simplifying the design, and refining the 2006 suspension system. He is confident these improvements will lead Crimson Racing to a top 20 finish in Detroit.

The cars are judged in a series of static and dynamic events, including technical inspection, cost, presentation, engineering design, and performance trials.

UA students involved in the SAE team include:

• Kyle Aldridge, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Fairhope
• Thomas Bonatz, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Birmingham (35223)
• Ken Collins, junior majoring in mechanical engineering from Decatur
• Adam Free, junior majoring in industrial engineering from Daphne
• Daniel Free, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Daphne
• Andrew Gilbert, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Decatur
• Steven Gilbert, senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Hoover
• Russel Hamilton, senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Opelika
• Marc Hansen, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Hoover
• Justin Holingsworth, senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Northport
• Jordan Hopkins, sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering from Humble, Texas
• Mike Koerner, sophomore majoring in aerospace and mechanics engineering from Decatur
• Sean McCarty, senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Hoover
• Joel McKay, team captain and senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Bay Minette
• Austin Murphree, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Oneonta
• Josh Newton, senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Madison, Miss.
• Alston Pike, junior majoring in mechanical engineering from Roanoke
• Tim Rose, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Rochester Hills, Mich.
• Jeff Scheurer, junior majoring in mechanical engineering from Dothan
• Matthew Scott, senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Alexander City
• David Seay, senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Albertville
• Will Sellers, senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Monroeville
• Arnar Thors, mechanical engineering graduate student from Decatur
• David Trawick, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Spanish Fort
• Matt Westberry, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Dothan
• Billy White, freshman majoring in mechanical engineering from Enterprise

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has about 1,900 students and nearly 100 faculty. In the last seven years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater scholars, Hollings scholars and Portz scholars.

Note: A photo opportunity will be Monday, May 14, at 1 p.m. in the Riverside Residence Hall parking lot on Hackberry Lane. The Crimson Racing team will drive a short course with the Formula SAE car.