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To All Potential Entrant Universities

Following on from the great success of Formula SAE-A 2008 we are pleased to advise that this year’s event is scheduled to run over the 4 day period Thursday December 10 thru to Sunday December 13 at the Victorian University Industrial Skill Centre Werribee, Victoria.

2009 will be the first year Formula SAE-A will be open to both conventional fuelled vehicles as well as units calibrated to run and operate on Ethanol based fuel. In addition, invitations are also extended to Universities wishing to display any electric powered vehicles developed throughout 2009. It is not intended to include an electric vehicle competition category for 2009 but dependant on the interest expressed consideration will definitely be given to the creation of this competition category in coming years.

Formula SAE-A 2008 attracted entrants from 17 Universities all around Australia as well as 7 very competitive entrants from overseas. The number and quality of last years entrants gives an indication of the excellent reputation this even has gathered amongst University campuses over the number of years Formula has been hosted and run by SAE-A and we intend to continue on building and expanding the program through the introduction of alternate fuel and / or energy categories going forward.

For those who have competed or attended past Formula events it will come as no surprise to be informed that the SAE-A budget required to run such a large quality event is quite substantial. Given that SAE-A is a not for profit organisation we have in the past relied heavily upon the fantastic financial support extended by a consortium of Australian Vehicle Manufacturers i.e. GM Holden, Ford, Toyota and Mitsubishi along with additional financial and services in kind support received from a number of other contributors. In this regard, 2009 is proving to be a particularly challenging year for SAE-A as our major past supporters, i.e. the Australian vehicle consortium, are all finding it exceedingly difficult to allocate sponsorship funding for this very worthwhile event in 2009. All agree on the absolute importance of the event in supporting the development of young engineers for the local industry in the longer term but are understandable facing extreme pressures from their own overseas parent companies to trim operational costs and to generally cut back sponsorships in areas considered non essential to the running of the local operations.

In recognition of the difficulties facing the industry over the coming year SAE-A has been working extremely hard since February 2009 to attract additional funding support from all possible sources, both government and non government. Unfortunately, the Global Financial Crisis is affecting all businesses and hence attracting new sponsorship for Formula SAE-A 2009 is proving to be an extremely difficult task.

SAE-A, with the support and encouragement of the local automotive industry is determined to ensure that Formula SAE-A 2009 proceeds and builds on its reputation as a quality event. For this reason we have spent quite a deal of time reviewing every cost associated with the running of past events in order to seek cost savings where possible but without wishing to in any way compromise the integrity of Formula SAE-A.

Although we are working towards a fully sponsored Event this year, we need to also consider the possibility of the Event being “self funded”. As a result we seek your comment & advice regarding the option that would see an increase in the Entry Fee paid by the participating Universities which in turn, would go toward the running of the Event accordingly. By our estimation, the revised Entrance Fee would need to be in the order of $7,250 per vehicle entry. We understand that this would represent quite a significant increase over past years but, given the well publicized current global financial crisis it may be that SAE-A has no alternative if the Event is to be staged this year & to ensure the ongoing value, integrity and viability of the Australian Formula SAE-A event.

To enable SAE-A to be in a position to consider all options, please advise your comments & ability to participate should it be necessary for SAE-A to introduce the above stated increased participation fee in order to see this event proceed in 2009. Your response to the undersigned would be appreciated by Wednesday May 13, 2009

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Originally posted by brettd:
If you ignore the accomodation and transport costs for team members themselves, a figure like that makes competitions in other countries become a lot more attractive.

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Originally posted by Bemo:
Perhabs the organizers forget the fact that they are not the only ones who have problems to find sponsors.