Honda F4i Engine GIVEAWAY!

[Steve Fox]

To all FSAE / FS participants:

I have been contacted by a past FSAE competitor. This competitor purchased a used Honda F4i engine for use by his team when he was in school. The team never got a chance to use the engine due to funding difficulties. He has since graduated, and the engine is sitting in storage. Here are the details:

’03 –’04 Honda F4i engine, with approximately 2,000 miles on it.
It includes ALL the electronics. ECU, wiring harness, sensors, etc.
The engine is crated, and the rest of the parts are in a plastic tub.

He knows that I have a lot of contact with many teams over the year so he contacted me to arrange to have me give away this engine. His wishes regarding the distribution of this engine are as follows:

1 He would like to see the engine go to a first year team. I have had a hard time identifying a first year team using a Honda in the past thirty days, so this requirement has loosened up to include newer teams, not necessarily a first year team only.
2 This must be a serious team registered for one of the ’09 FSAE/FS competitions.
3 This engine must be used in FSAE/FS competition for the ’09 FSAE/FS season.
4 You must be prepared to pick this engine up or arrange for transportation. It is located relatively close to the southern end of Lake Michigan. The specific location will be disclosed to the winning team only.

Do not contact me to ask any more questions about this engine. I have told you what I know. Yes, it ran when it was removed from the bike. Yes, it has been prepped well for storage. No it has not been stored outside. It is in his garage. He is confident that this engine runs well enough to be a good choice for a newer team. (Now you really know all that I know.)

If your team has an interest in this used Honda engine, and you meet the above requirements, please get in contact with me via e-mail. FSAE@PowerTrainTech.com Please write a quick note (absolutely no more than half a page!) explaining why your team needs this engine, instead of the team standing next to you in line. I will tell you all right now, that any and all first year teams WILL get preferential consideration.

I will make a decision on the distribution of this engine based on the replies that are sent in. I have the sole responsibility and final say in this decision. I will do my best to honor this kind and generous gentleman’s wishes. I will make my announcement as to which team is awarded the engine on the evening of December 19, 2008. (I have set this date so as to allow you travel time for pick-up over Christmas break.) The engine winning team will be posted right here on FSAE.com.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas to all! Santa Claus WILL stuff a Honda engine into one lucky team’s stocking this year!

[Steve Fox]

To all FSAE / FS participants:

I have been contacted by a past FSAE competitor. This competitor purchased a used Honda F4i engine for use by his team when he was in school. The team never got a chance to use the engine due to funding difficulties. He has since graduated, and the engine is sitting in storage. Here are the details:

’03 –’04 Honda F4i engine, with approximately 2,000 miles on it.
It includes ALL the electronics. ECU, wiring harness, sensors, etc.
The engine is crated, and the rest of the parts are in a plastic tub.

He knows that I have a lot of contact with many teams over the year so he contacted me to arrange to have me give away this engine. His wishes regarding the distribution of this engine are as follows:

1 He would like to see the engine go to a first year team. I have had a hard time identifying a first year team using a Honda in the past thirty days, so this requirement has loosened up to include newer teams, not necessarily a first year team only.
2 This must be a serious team registered for one of the ’09 FSAE/FS competitions.
3 This engine must be used in FSAE/FS competition for the ’09 FSAE/FS season.
4 You must be prepared to pick this engine up or arrange for transportation. It is located relatively close to the southern end of Lake Michigan. The specific location will be disclosed to the winning team only.

Do not contact me to ask any more questions about this engine. I have told you what I know. Yes, it ran when it was removed from the bike. Yes, it has been prepped well for storage. No it has not been stored outside. It is in his garage. He is confident that this engine runs well enough to be a good choice for a newer team. (Now you really know all that I know.)

If your team has an interest in this used Honda engine, and you meet the above requirements, please get in contact with me via e-mail. FSAE@PowerTrainTech.com Please write a quick note (absolutely no more than half a page!) explaining why your team needs this engine, instead of the team standing next to you in line. I will tell you all right now, that any and all first year teams WILL get preferential consideration.

I will make a decision on the distribution of this engine based on the replies that are sent in. I have the sole responsibility and final say in this decision. I will do my best to honor this kind and generous gentleman’s wishes. I will make my announcement as to which team is awarded the engine on the evening of December 19, 2008. (I have set this date so as to allow you travel time for pick-up over Christmas break.) The engine winning team will be posted right here on FSAE.com.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas to all! Santa Claus WILL stuff a Honda engine into one lucky team’s stocking this year!

[BP]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Steve Fox:
To all FSAE / FS participants:

I have been contacted by a past FSAE competitor. This competitor purchased a used Honda F4i engine for use by his team when he was in school. The team never got a chance to use the engine due to funding difficulties. He has since graduated, and the engine is sitting in storage. Here are the details:

’03 –’04 Honda F4i engine, with approximately 2,000 miles on it.
It includes ALL the electronics. ECU, wiring harness, sensors, etc.
The engine is crated, and the rest of the parts are in a plastic tub.

He knows that I have a lot of contact with many teams over the year so he contacted me to arrange to have me give away this engine. His wishes regarding the distribution of this engine are as follows:

1 He would like to see the engine go to a first year team. I have had a hard time identifying a first year team using a Honda in the past thirty days, so this requirement has loosened up to include newer teams, not necessarily a first year team only.
2 This must be a serious team registered for one of the ’09 FSAE/FS competitions.
3 This engine must be used in FSAE/FS competition for the ’09 FSAE/FS season.
4 You must be prepared to pick this engine up or arrange for transportation. It is located relatively close to the southern end of Lake Michigan. The specific location will be disclosed to the winning team only.

Do not contact me to ask any more questions about this engine. I have told you what I know. Yes, it ran when it was removed from the bike. Yes, it has been prepped well for storage. No it has not been stored outside. It is in his garage. He is confident that this engine runs well enough to be a good choice for a newer team. (Now you really know all that I know.)

If your team has an interest in this used Honda engine, and you meet the above requirements, please get in contact with me via e-mail. FSAE@PowerTrainTech.com Please write a quick note (absolutely no more than half a page!) explaining why your team needs this engine, instead of the team standing next to you in line. I will tell you all right now, that any and all first year teams WILL get preferential consideration.

I will make a decision on the distribution of this engine based on the replies that are sent in. I have the sole responsibility and final say in this decision. I will do my best to honor this kind and generous gentleman’s wishes. I will make my announcement as to which team is awarded the engine on the evening of December 19, 2008. (I have set this date so as to allow you travel time for pick-up over Christmas break.) The engine winning team will be posted right here on FSAE.com.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas to all! Santa Claus WILL stuff a Honda engine into one lucky team’s stocking this year! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have contacted you via email : lufsae@lakeheadu.ca.

We are a first year team registered for the 2009 FSAE Michigan Competition, whom are currently having money issues and engine problems. Please respond to us, we need your help!!!

[Steve Fox]

15 days to go!

I have seen some very creative letters. One of which was even addressed to 'Santa Steve'! Another letter writer stated that their team 'will do whatever it takes to get this engine...', and yet another team was promising gifts of beverages with a distinctly alcoholic content... The topper so far comes from a team suggesting that we just end the contest early and send the engine directly to them. And finally... No, submitting two letters to me does not get your team double the consideration.

Although very flattering, I can assure you that buttering me up will not influence my decision to award this engine to any but the truly most deserving team.

It is not too late to submit your letters. If your team has an interest in a used Honda F4i engine, write me a letter!

[BP]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Steve Fox:
15 days to go!

I have seen some very creative letters. One of which was even addressed to 'Santa Steve'! Another letter writer stated that their team 'will do whatever it takes to get this engine...', and yet another team was promising gifts of beverages with a distinctly alcoholic content... The topper so far comes from a team suggesting that we just end the contest early and send the engine directly to them. And finally... No, submitting two letters to me does not get your team double the consideration.

Although very flattering, I can assure you that buttering me up will not influence my decision to award this engine to any but the truly most deserving team.

It is not too late to submit your letters. If your team has an interest in a used Honda F4i engine, write me a letter! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

When I say "we will do whatever it takes to get this engine".... I mean it. I think this will be the longest 2 weeks of my life...Santa Steve. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Happy Holidays!

[Jaime Marquez]

Hi Santa Steve, UAEMex Racing Team is ready for your final decision of the day tomorrow, hank you for this help that is beneficial to all universities that have made SAE project, we wish you a merry Christmas and see you tomorrow in the results. thanks

Jaime Marquez, team captain, UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DEL ESTADO DE MEXICO, UAEMEX RACING TEAM, CALIFORNIA 2009. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Steve Fox]

OK the news you have all been waiting for! http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

First let me tell you who sent in letters. (These are in no particular order.)

McMaster University
University of Laval (Canada)
Mississippi State University
Central Connecticut State University (First year team)
North Carolina A&T State University (First year team)
Lake Head University (Canada) (First year team)
University of Illinois at Chicago (First year team)
University of Mexico
Portland State University
Manipal University (India)
Lawrence Technological University
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (First year team)
ITESM Campus Queretaro (Mexico) (First year team)
Polytechnic School, University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) (First year team)
York College of Pennsylvania

We had 15 teams write letters of interest for the Honda F4i engine giveaway. The first entry arrived the same day I wrote the original post. The last entry came in yesterday! Out of the 15 total entrants, roughly half (7 teams) were first year teams. The person who is donating this engine specifically requested that this engine go to a first year team. Due to the excellent turn out of first year applicants, I heavily weighted the judging in favor of the first year teams.

Every letter that was submitted had a couple of common threads. All of you told me how $$ poor your particular team was. In addition, you all stated that it was very difficult to scare up sponsorship money. Some of you resorted to bribery. Some of you told me how desperate you were to get this engine. One team even stated that they had already constructed mounts, intake and exhaust specifically for THIS engine, so they knew they just HAD to be the lucky recipients. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

The winning team actually went on to explain to me not only how this engine would benefit their team, but also how they intended to use it, and get the most out of this gift. By coincidence, they had also designed, and are constructing their car, for use with a Honda F4i already. So the giveaway engine will slip right in. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to read this and send in a letter. If there is one piece of advice I can pass along to all of you, it is this: If you respond to something like this in the future, do a lot less begging, and complaining about what you don't have. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif Instead, concentrate on the positives of your team and explain how this gift would be used, and give specifics of how it would benefit your team. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Oh, by the way, the winning team with the best letter is: The Formula SAE Team from the University of Illinois at Chicago, UIC Motorsports. Congratulations to Jonathan Komperda, their Engine Lead, for a letter well written! http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif