7/16/08 -- UNM mechanical engineering students designed, built and raced a small formula-style racing car in the 2008 Formula Society of Automotive Engineers West competition at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. This is one of seven international competitions that are part of the largest engineering competition in the world.
It was a year-long effort by the student team to design, build, test, train and race the cars. Eighty-three teams from around the world entered. The UNM School of Engineering team placed 8th in acceleration, 17th in design, 19th in marketing and 24th overall.
“I am very proud of this year’s team. They were forced to make a major design change in late February, but still developed a highly competitive car,” said Mechanical Engineering Professor and Program Director John Russell. “Recruiters from Honda, Toyota, and GM sought out members of the team. Earlier in the year four UNM team members were among 22 hired by Honda R&D after an extensive interview process.” Russell said that in job interviews, students were asked what they would do in various situations and instead of answering hypothetically, they were able to say what they actually did on the project.
Students on the team begin a three-semester, for-credit course to learn about racecar engineering in the spring semester of their junior year. First semester is dedicated to the academics of racecar design. In the fall, students build the car, and in the spring, they test it. They master the software required to design the car and manufacture almost all the parts. The class is an alternative to the required senior design project in Mechanical Engineering.