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 PONTIAC,
MI (May 14-18) -- This past week, over 100 universities from across the globe
gathered in the parking lot outside the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac,
MI for the annual Formula SAE competition. The competition included
more than just racing. Students were challenged to design, fabricate,
and compete with small formula-style race cars. Restrictions are
placed on the car frame and engine so the students' knowledge,
creativity, and imagination are also tested. Four cycle engines up to
610cc are used in the competition and can be turbocharged or
supercharged to further challenge the students with respect to engine
design. The vehicles are judged in three different categories: static
inspection and engineering design, solo performance trials, and
high-performance track endurance. The FSAE board sets the parameters
for each event and give team points according to their performance
and design. At the end of the event, the team with the most points
wins the overall competition.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. has been participating
in the annual event since the early 90's. Hoosier started its
participation as a product sponsor by offering price discounts to all
participating FSAE students. Since 1995, Hoosier has been a Gold
Sponsor offering trackside support for the yearly event. Hoosier
Dealer, Mid-Atlantic Motorsports (www.midatlanticmotorsport.com),
has been the official event support offering sales and service for
many years. Tom Reichel, of Mid-Atlantic Motorsports, has been a
tremendous help to students by offering technical assistance for
wheels and tire setups. Hoosier Tire also sponsors the Autocross event
by giving free tires to the first, second and third quickest teams.
Ironically, the
overall winner at the 2003 FSAE competition actually came the greatest
distance--Australia. Congratulations goes to the University of
Wollongong who tallied the most points in the multi-day competition to
earn overall champion status. Interestingly, the Wollongong team just
recently purchased a set of Hoosier tires for the impending
competition. The tires were purchased through Hoosier's corporate
headquarters which offers a 20% discount to all Formula SAE teams both
domestically and internationally.
Following the University of Wollongong in total
points was the University of Missouri-Columbia with Michigan State
University claiming third place honors. For more information about the
2003 Formula SAE competition you can visit their website at www.sae.org.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. wishes to congratulate all the FSAE teams
competing in this year's competition particularly those who chose to compete
using Hoosier's "Tires Designed for Champions."
Special thanks to Hoosier Product Manager Jeff
Speer who attended the competition and provided the details for this
report.
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