School of Engineering

Students race to fourth place in international car challenge

Reaching speeds of 110 mph, the 475-pound Jayhawk Motorsports car earned 17 KU students the school's best-ever finish at the Society of Automotive Engineers Formula Car Challenge May 17-21.

Robb Sorem, associate dean for undergraduate studies and an associate professor of mechanical engineering, led the team to Romeo, Mich., where he reported the car performed expertly. "It was wicked fast and competed with the best. Any minor setbacks were easily overcome," he added that KU is the only school to compete in all events for the last six years. "It is a tribute to our students' commitment and ability to engineer a high-performance vehicle."

Along with the fourth-place finish, the team won a third-place Hoosier Pacing Tire Autocross Award and a Formula SAE Spirit of Excellence Award, which came with a $600 prize. The challenge included 140 teams, each of which designed, built and drove small formula-style racecars. At the competition, the teams and their cars were evaluated in a series of nine static and dynamic events including high performance track endurance, acceleration, presentation, design, cost and technical inspection. Teams also were required to adhere to extensive safety regulations, submit thorough design information and make several technical presentations.

KU made several changes to its car this year including a pull rod suspension system in the front and rear as well as added comfort—a padded seatback to accommodate drivers of all sizes. Inside, the car holds a 4-cylinder 600cc Honda CBR F4i engine without internal modifications to ensure reliability. Outside, a carbon fiber body sits atop 20-inch tires on 13-inch rims. The project cost more than $35,000 to complete and benefited from a substantial in-kind donation for the carbon fiber body.