View Full Version : Starting a Team
integraL85
01-22-2004, 07:18 PM
http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif I am a freshman at Florida state, which does not ,as of now, have an fsae team. My sister and her fiance both graduated from Geoirgia TEch, who has obvously had a great team so far. I'm lookin to start a team at my School, i know theres enough interest. But i have NO CLUE about how to go about doing this...can anyone help with some good starting points for me? It would be awesome not to have to transfer to GT just because i cant get this started here in Tallahassee. Thanks!
integraL85
01-22-2004, 07:18 PM
http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif I am a freshman at Florida state, which does not ,as of now, have an fsae team. My sister and her fiance both graduated from Geoirgia TEch, who has obvously had a great team so far. I'm lookin to start a team at my School, i know theres enough interest. But i have NO CLUE about how to go about doing this...can anyone help with some good starting points for me? It would be awesome not to have to transfer to GT just because i cant get this started here in Tallahassee. Thanks!
Adam B
01-22-2004, 07:45 PM
hey man, its not gonna be easy to start a team. I go to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and this is our second attempt at FSAE. I suggest that you start a talking relationships with one of the professors in your department (MechanicalE???). The faculty interest is the only thing that will get things started.
Ryan Schoffer
01-22-2004, 08:56 PM
best bet if you can get some support and a team together is to get sub teams together and do research, and then make a trip one year to detroit jus to look at other cars and get ideas
good luck
Vehicle electronics leader
www.ucalgary.ca/fsae (http://www.ucalgary.ca/fsae)
RiNaZ
01-23-2004, 11:40 AM
hey integral85, try checking the forum for previous posts on how to start a new team. There had been a lot of discussion for a starting first year team in this forum.
I can tell you it's not easy. I'm here in daytona beach, and my school has been trying for the past 10 years and we came up with one car but something happened on the way to detroit that they didnt make it to the competition.
From my experience, i would tell you to have a good relationship with your advisor. And then make sure you get at least a group of people who are interested in FSAE. Not those who only brags about how they worked on a racecar before but have no interest in FSAE (i.e. spending A LOT of time outside of class working on the car). Skilled engineers are good only if they're interested in FSAE.
My school has tons of these car guys, but come meeting time, nobody wants to show up. Get those who would spend time on meetings even if they dont know what camshaft and crankshaft is. You guys are going to be wasting a lot of time in the first few meetings, sometimes it is unavoidable for a first year team. So it's crucial that you get those ppl who can attend and have dedication.
hope that helps ...
RiNaZ
RiNaZ
01-23-2004, 11:43 AM
ohh forgot to mention, UCF has an FSAE team. Try going down there. You can check them out. Have a field trip with your team or something. I dont know anybody from UCF, but im sure some of them are regulars here in this forum. Try do a search or go to their website.
RiNaZ
ethanL007
01-23-2004, 01:13 PM
integra-
my name is ethan lessard and i am the team captain for the university of new hampshire fsae team (first year team), and i got a ton of advice to not start this project from many people who have tried it at our school and failed.
i just kept going. it is easier to gain support with faculty if you show you are really dedicated. we have a core group of about 6 people that put in our own money to get things started, a couple of hundred bucks a piece. then once you have something to show start showing it. we got an advisor that was impressed with our progress despite the lack of university support.
the next major hurdle is your first sponsor. after the first one commits, then it gets a bit easier each time.
the one thing that you need to keep in mind, and keep telling your team is this: the competition starts may 19, and we will have a car in detroit.
henry ford said, "you cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do".
Ethan Lessard
Team Captain
UNH Precision Racing
www.domesticpc.com/fsae (http://www.domesticpc.com/fsae)
gtmsracer
01-23-2004, 02:56 PM
Allison,
If you want to start a team down at Florida State, just talk to Ira and myself. We can help ya out. We can give you a few pointers. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
Shamus Yandle
Georgia Tech Motorsports 1998-2003
2001/2002 Formula Student Champions
2002 Formula SAE - 3rd place
2003 Formula SAE - 4th place
John McCarthy
01-23-2004, 09:34 PM
IntegraL85,
Be persistent. Be annoying if you have to but don't expect things to happen quickly.
We are in the process of putting together our first attempt at FSAE and while we have had plenty of verbal support from staff, only persistence and lots of time has seen those words turn into actions.
In late July we had our first meeting and now, some 6 months later we are still fighting for workspace at the uni. It's coming together and we'll be there in December (Australian comp) but constantly pushing is the only way you'll make inroads.
Once things are setup it gets alot easier.
Cheers!
Technical Manager,
QUT Motorsport.
www.qutmotorsport.com (http://www.qutmotorsport.com)
integraL85
01-24-2004, 02:29 AM
Well you have all been a lot of help..i'm sure ill be coming back with more questions! How do i get started with sponsors...as far as telling them what they need to hear to fork out some money to sponsor our team???
Charlie
01-24-2004, 12:06 PM
You want to make sure you have three things to make a FSAE team successful:
1. Faculty Support (or at least tolerance)
2. Quality Sponsors
3. Quality team members
There's one thing I've found is the basis to attracting all three: professionalism.
If you have a professional attitude about the team and present yourself that way, the faculty will take you a lot more seriously. Be prepared to show people why you want to do this and why it will be great for the whole university. I hope you are a good speaker and have come charisma because you'll need it. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
You'll need to prove that you want to do this because it is great for the university's image and great for education. Proving that you want a FSAE team for the right reasons is tough. The 'just a bunch of guys building a car' stigma is easy to get.
If you take a professional approach with everything you do, from keeping a shop clean and a fun place to work, to presenting yourself and your team promenently and in a good light, then you will keep the faculty mostly on your side. While some sponsors won't care, the good ones will be a lot more impressed if you have a professional attitude. Same way with your team members. Some team members will be there no matter what. But some of the best potential members might eb turned off if your team is perceived to be 'beneath' them. I know you might say F 'em, but you want members with a high standard, believe me.
If you hold high standards and act professionally, it rubs off on the rest of the team, and you get people trying harder because that's what the team is about. It just snowballs, and it starts at the beginning. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
-Charlie Ping
I just need enough to tide me over until I need more.
Charlie
01-24-2004, 09:29 PM
One more thing about sponsors (which are extremely important obviously!)
Concentrate on sponsors that get you what you really need first. We've managed to round up enough sponsors that we could probably build a car gratis if we had to (using parts off the old car). A couple of the first sponsors our team snagged in 1995 when they were starting out have resulted in free 4130 tubing and a free engine every year since. We also have sponsors that take care of all our nuts and bolts, composites, lubricants, etc. Our local Grainger salesman gets us a $500 order every year for shop supplies, tools, etc. Getting your basic needs fulfilled will make you a lot more comfortable about starting the project for sure.
Take care of your sponsors and keep them informed of your progress. They really will be a lot more receptive if you need anything else (or next year) if they feel like they made a difference and you keep a dialogue going (don't JUST talk to your sponsors when you need something!). Some teams have great newsletters, this is difficult to do but I'm sure it pays dividends. I just tryed to stay in touch through emails during the season.
-Charlie Ping
I just need enough to tide me over until I need more.
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