Looks like the static event schedule with bays is released. And has been for a while.

I wish SAE would learn to crosspost things here, saves people here from having to steal things from them.

http://www.formulasae.org/forums/formula/dispatch.cgi/announcements

So, plan your Thursday.

Once again this year looks like the judges have put the cars that are expected to do well in design 1st (8-9 AM). All the top 10, + OSU, UTA, Leeds, Toronto, etc. I wonder why that is. I guess to get a good baseline. But last year, many of those cars didn't make semifinals. So I hope we have better luck this time.

The cars are assigned to the various design bays based upon the reports you submit on 1 March. You are correct in that an attempt is made to set a good baseline for the judges, as there are some new ones every year. It is also necessary to balance each group in terms of perceived quality.

You will, of course, be judged on what you bring as well as upon your knowledge of what you did.

Design reviews have been distributed and are being reviewed by us. If a team would like feedback on their design report, please let me know and I will bring it with me to the competition.

- Dick

I should add that the feedback I'm talking about here will be on the design report you submitted and not the technical merits of your design. For that you have to grab us at the competition.

One request per entrant please. My feedback will be distributed at the competition, sometime on Friday or Saturday. (That way I know the team got it and not just an individual member.)

As I've said here in the past, at the competition, be sure to understand what you're asking for. There are usually three requests:

1. Why didn't we do well in design?

2. What can we do to improve?

3. What do you think of our car?

If you ask the latter you will get the personal opinion of the individual(s) you ask. That may or not be the same as how you were judged. I can disagree with a design, but if it is well executed and the students exhibit a clear understanding of what they were trying to do, they will likely score higher in design than some others.

The first two are tougher to answer. If you don't make the semi-finals or finals, and if the judge you inquire of didn't see the car in the first round, what you are likely to get are some general comments on the design, as well as how the car was executed. (Hint: You can ask any of us who are around the whole week - and you should, but be sure to make note of who is in the group that judges you in the first round and seek them out.)

quote:

---

...But last year, many of those cars didn't make semifinals.

---

There are certainly cars (and student understanding) that don't match the quality of the report (You can write a design report based on those submitted in previous years.) and vice versa. (It doesn't count toward the point total, so some schools submit the minimum needed to get by.)

The fact that a bunch of "the usual suspects" didn't make the semi-finals should be a kick in the butt to them, as well as an encouragement to everyone else that you can.

- Dick

Dick,
I would love to get some feedback on the Design Review we submitted. Do I need to do anything more than ask here?

We got an 8:30am Design Event spot. It looks like we'll have our work cut out for us. That's some very stiff competition.

Western Washington University Car #35

Jim (and others),

Asking here is sufficient.

The deadline will be Sunday 16 May, as I need time to prepare all of the feedback sheets. Nonetheless, sooner is better.

Based strictly on my first glance at all of the design reports, my guess is that once again there has been a big leap in the "mid-pack" cars and subsequently an increase in overall quality. What you bring, of course, is a different story.

- Dick

Dick,
We're interested in your feedback. Thanks for offering to do this!

Denny Trimble
University of Washington #60

Dick,

We would appreciate any feedback that you have. We are car #27 this year.

Thanks,

Brent

Mr. Golembiewski-

Please provide feedback for Auburn's #5 as well. We are especially interested in your feedback because our advisor told us in so many words that it was an absolutely terrible report.

Dick, Cincinnati would like your feedback as well. Car #43

SVSU #64 would appreciate feeback as well!

Thank you,

University of Missouri Columbia would also like to hear some feedback, we are car #2, please email us or stop by our paddock area in Detroit.

Thank you,
Eric Attebery
SAE@missouri.edu

Dick,
You'll be sorry
I offered feedback obn design reports last year and was almost overwhelmed. To this day I am not sure that I answered everybody.

Seriously, I am sure the teams appreciate having design judges that are available for feedback.

Regards
PDR

My good Irish rodent friend, living in the land of some of my favorite stouts:

That's why the SAE pays us the big bucks! <grin>

- Dick

Dick,

Rutgers University, car #29, would greatly appreciate your feedback. Thanks in advance.

-Joe Cowin
Rutgers Formula Racing

This rookie team would appreciate some feedback as well...École Nationale d'Aérotechnique, #137.

Thanks a lot!

Marc Jaxa-Rozen
École Nationale d'Aérotechnique

Hey Dick,

University of Toronto #43 would like feedback too. I just read through ours again - it's funny how some of the finer points and predictions change over the course of dynamic and static testing. Can't wait to see this mid-pack rise in quality - we are very eager over here to hit the ground in michigan - but need some hot days too.

Jeremy Koudelka
Technical Director
University of Toronto Formula SAE

University of Toronto is #94.

Jeremy needs sleep.

Vinh

Carleton University, team 13, would love your feedback on our Design Report.



...Vin, that was CLASSIC! I know what you mean by needing sleep...

Hi Dick

If you'd add University of Western Australia (Car 142) to the list we'd appreciate it!

Thanks
David