Baja/Formula

[Big Daddy]

I was wondering if any one had Pics of Akrons car that competed in both events?

[Big Daddy]

I was wondering if any one had Pics of Akrons car that competed in both events?

[Brent Howard]

I think you might be mistaken. I looked at akron's site and all their FSAE cars look pretty standard...I don't see how any of them would be able to compete off road in Baja. I know one team did compete in both, I'm just skeptical that it was Akron.

Brent

www.ucalgary.ca/fsae (http://www.ucalgary.ca/fsae)

[Big Daddy]

This is Akron's 1996 baja car
http://webmail.tntech.edu/MBX/jpstacy21/ATT:IMAP:1469/1/9596b1.jpg

This is the same car in formula mode.
http://webmail.tntech.edu/MBX/jpstacy21/ATT:IMAP:1469/2/9596bj41.jpg

[Brent Howard]

Sorry, My mistake. I still can't see the pictures though, because you can't link to your e-mail account. It needs a password to see the pics.

Brent

www.ucalgary.ca/fsae (http://www.ucalgary.ca/fsae)

[Big Daddy]

If you would like to see the pics and the story from that year go to thier baja website at http://www.ecgf.uakron.edu/~mech/sae/baja/pics.htm

sorry about the pics in the post before they worked on my computer hahahha.

[Chris Boyden]

Hmmmm....Why? http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[Brent Howard]

Wow....those are some interesting pictures. Looks like a baja car, not really like a formula car. I think that trying to compete in both competitions with a single vehicle is kinda pointless though. You lose out in design freedom for both competitions because of teh limitations and requirements of the other one. The formula car would be heavy due to the shock loading experiance in baja (heavier suspenion needed), and the engine/drivetrain area would be heavier than needed for baja to accomadate a larger FSAE engine. Seems like a cool idea, but sure makes design difficult.

Brent

www.ucalgary.ca/fsae (http://www.ucalgary.ca/fsae)

[Jackson]

In fact the drivetrain/suspension in Baja needs to be much MORE robust than in formula.

In formula you design for high G cornering and some small suspension bump loading. In baja, there is massive bump loading (which is much harder to predict, hence harder to design for) so the suspension is usually much beefier. The drivetrain is set for low end torque with something like a 40:1 gear ratio or something like 400 ft-lb of torque with the 10hp briggs motor. (also when rocks poke through the A arms and hit your drivelines they better be able to take the abuse!)

Not to mention that ground clearance and suspension travel are major issues. In the west comp last year we had 9-10" of suspension travel and we had no problems with the obstacles and the rock crawl (that event broke a LOT of cars!). Lots of other teams had problems with many of the obstacles. Trying to design a drive system that transfers torque through 15-20 degree angles at normal ride height is kind of a bear!

Trying to design for both comps must have been fun! More rules just means more engineering, which is really the point isn't it? Maybe I'm just sick!

Brian

[gug]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jackson:
Trying to design for both comps must have been fun! More rules just means more engineering, which is really the point isn't it? Maybe I'm just sick!
Brian<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

i agree with you, you are sick! http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif more rules? please dont let the rule-makers hear!

- if it isnt coming, you need a bigger tool.