FSAE-East...bad news

[uwptom]

After trying to make a rule verification with FSAE I was informed that there is no FSAE Virginia event in 2010. I don't know if this is new to everyone or just me.

From my email response:

Tom:

There will not be an FSAE Virginia Competition in 2010.

Kathleen McDonald
FSAE Coordinator

[uwptom]

After trying to make a rule verification with FSAE I was informed that there is no FSAE Virginia event in 2010. I don't know if this is new to everyone or just me.

From my email response:

Tom:

There will not be an FSAE Virginia Competition in 2010.

Kathleen McDonald
FSAE Coordinator

[Hector]

Yeah,

there was a little meeting at MIS today where they discussed the future of the U.S. comps.

VIR is cancelled; SAE and the Big Three cannot afford to host it anymore.

MIS registration fees will probably be doubled for next year. Furthermore, the idea of bringing back 2-year cars to the U.S. was discussed to help out teams that cannot afford to build a car every year. Meh...

[uwptom]

We are most definitely in the low budget boat. This year was a major scrape to get by to make it to MIS. Doubling the cost to register is going to hurt, and second year cars are almost a must for teams like us.

[FF Scott]

WOW, very sad to hear the news of VIR go http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif . The MIS cost is not horrible or unexpected after all the talk about the Aussie's having issues.
At least I got to attend a VIR competition...

I hope this is the full extent of the bad news that comes out of the "big" meeting they had today. However I have to say I support any measure SAE wants to take as long as the goal is to save FSAE for the future. Steve D, hinted at what it cost to rent these tracks and buy insurance on these cars (bu-ku dollars). So if SAE and Detroit can figure out a way to cont. at least one event in the US, then we as teams have to except that and support it! Everyone is hurting and this is just another example of that.

Keep us posted!

[DustinJones]

I believe I also read on SAE.org that GM won't be having their machine shop available this year.

http://www.sae.org/servlets/pr...RMULA&RELEASE_ID=990 (http://www.sae.org/servlets/pressRoom?OBJECT_TYPE=PressReleases&PAGE=showCDSNews&EVENT=FORMULA&RELEASE_ID=990)

[Superfast Matt McCoy]

They could go all Formula One and allow advantages for budget capped teams. You can use last year's car as long as it cost you less than $59 million to make.

I think it would be excellent for SCCA nationals to be a goal for more teams. Maybe SAE could get involved and do a competition within the nationals where the autocross is the only dynamic event.

The event is already going on, and all the stuff is already paid for and sponsored.

[Mike Cook]

This really sucks as I think VIR was one of the coolest events the SAE has hosted, and am proud to have taken part for the last couple years.

That said, I don't think it is really a surprise to anyone: 40 cars registered, 20 cars made it there, 10 were drivable and about 4 were competitive. The event was just too early for most teams to be prepared.

[SAE_intl_girl]

OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM SAE INTERNATIONAL

Formula SAE Virginia Competition Suspended Until Further Notice

SAE International regrets having to announce that we have decided to suspend the Formula SAE competition at VIR for the foreseeable future. Of the 40 teams that initially registered for the 2009 competition only 21 teams completed their cars and registered to compete onsite at the event. This year’s number of teams onsite fell 25% from 2008 and is well below the number we need to sustain a competition.

After considering the economy and talking to university representatives we concluded that there will not be enough student demand to require three Formula SAE competitions in 2010.
Our decision to suspend the VIR event was not made lightly. All the teams who came to VIR loved the event site and running a road course. From an SAE staff standpoint, the volunteers and VIR staff were a delight to work with. The Formula SAE Virginia event took a lot of work by a lot of people and it gave a lot of students a great experience; hopefully after the economy improves and the team demand recovers we will resume our third Formula SAE competition.

The Formula SAE Michigan and Formula SAE California events will be active and available for team registration in 2010.

Thank you,
SAE International Collegiate Design Series Staff

[alumasteel]

Just out of curiosity, was moving the VIR comp to a later date an option? I suspect the reason for such low demand is because a lot of teams simply don't have the manpower to make it in late April. If I remember correctly it's mostly experienced/established teams that made it to VIR the past couple years. Or was it mainly just a cost thing (for both the organizers and the teams)?

I was disappointed to hear about the postponement since I was thinking about making the trip to Virginia next year. If it is a lack of demand due to timing then perhaps in the future, they could have MIS first and then VIR/West in June/July. That way you could have the major competition first and let everyone break their cars in and then go to one of the smaller "regional" competitions. That way even teams on the east coast can go to a second comp with the same car without having to transport it clear across the country.

Just a thought... would hate for the 3rd U.S. comp to disappear completely since I've heard it's been a very enjoyable competition with a fun track layout.

[Math ze engineer]

On our side, even if we would have a working car on that date we can't go to this competition because its the final exam's week. What's the point to put a competition during a school exam rush. Well here in Québec we have a slightly different school system?

[D Collins Jr]

I doubt the competition could be moved back any. It's my understanding that we were invited there as part of an existing competition weekend. Changing the date would lose that. Also, it would be difficult to move the event back without causing conflicts with Michigan and California.

As far as finals go, we couldn't go to Michigan this year due to a conflict where it fell on the same week as finals. I know a lot of teams (on the west coast) go through their finals right before West. Then again, I also know of alot of teams that take their finals in Michigan.

[kapps]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Math ze engineer:
On our side, even if we would have a working car on that date we can't go to this competition because its the final exam's week. What's the point to put a competition during a school exam rush. Well here in Québec we have a slightly different school system? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Nah, it's the same as us. We didn't have a car running in time but our finals always fall during the week of VIR as well.

[VFR750R]

Understandably it's not easy, Cornell exams are always during MIS. I took a heat transfer exam in a hotel room one year.

[Juggz]

I think we might see a trend with all the SAE events soon,

The Australasian event had its price increased from 1000 to 7250 per team just to try and run it.

Unfortunate because wel all learn so much from this event and would be unfortunate for younger keen members to miss out

[uwptom]

MIS is hard for our team with finals being the same week. Sometimes we can get our finals moved sometimes we can't and some of the team shows up later at comp.