Formula SAE Michigan 2012 Competition: - Updates, Pictures, Stories, and More

[AxelRipper]

Well, since I'm stuck at work and not able to work on our car for another couple of hours, I felt it was time to start up this thread that had not yet been started.

We're still rushing to finish our car while Rennstall Esslingen is in our shop as well testing their car.

The initial weather forcast for next week: slight chance of rain Wed and Thurs, sunny on Friday, and then good chance of rain for endurance on Sat, temps in the mid 60's. Typical MI weather, though a touch warmer than we were expecting.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

[AxelRipper]

Well, since I'm stuck at work and not able to work on our car for another couple of hours, I felt it was time to start up this thread that had not yet been started.

We're still rushing to finish our car while Rennstall Esslingen is in our shop as well testing their car.

The initial weather forcast for next week: slight chance of rain Wed and Thurs, sunny on Friday, and then good chance of rain for endurance on Sat, temps in the mid 60's. Typical MI weather, though a touch warmer than we were expecting.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

[acedeuce802]

I think it's farfetched to trust the weather so far ahead, when the forcast can't even predict current weather. I checked the weather before leaving work last night, and leaving home for work this morning. It was supposed to be raining. Sure enough, I had the convertible top down both ways http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Really hoping for dry weather at comp though, definitely excited for my first competition too!

[Mbirt]

To further prove the point of how well you can predict MI weather a week into the future, weather underground shows shows a 20% chance of t-storms for Friday and clear/sunny for Saturday.

Time to leave the office and go build a racecar!

[RobbyObby]

Any else but Kettering on these forums anymore?? http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

San Jose State is currently on route to Madison till Tuesday. Then it's out to MIS. As per the norm in FSAE, car ran Tuesday night, got packed up Wednesday, then we set off Wednesday night.

Really hoping for some rain during the dynamic events, particularly Saturday. Seeing as how my first comp in Michigan was last year, and there was not a drop of rain (first time in a few years at FSAE-M I think), it'd be interesting to see a little unpredictability thrown in the mix!

[JWard]

Will there be a live feed / radio feed for the event? Just interested to know!

[mech5496]

Interested on the radio/live streaming too...as anyone in here I suppose! Are there any lists on Twitter to follow? In general, every possible source of info (and PICS) would be much appreciated! I know we are a week too early, but I'm always eager of the Michigan comp, being the first comp of the season!

[TMichaels]

I will be at comp and try to tweet regularly about what is going on.

[Mbirt]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RobbyObby:
Any else but Kettering on these forums anymore?? http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>We've got a mandatory co-op program and most of our team, including the three of us above, is on co-op term right now. It's a bit odd to realize that your productivity is being squashed by attending work for 8 hours that could be spent finishing the car. We don't have the luxury of skipping a few weeks of class and then cramming for finals after comp to make up for it.

No sleep 'til Brooklyn!

[Pennyman]

Second time as a tech inspector. Really excited to see everyone's vehicles and catch up with some friends. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[mech5496]

Tobias, I forgot you being there...now I'm quite sure about the "regular update" thing. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[TMichaels]

Well,
we will see...first I have to get my AT&T prepaid to work and then I have to determine how long my portable router will last http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

TU Munich brought their electric car to do some demonstration runs and scare the smokers. I will scrutineer them. Additionally I will be a design judge, so let's hope I find some spare time to tweet or post here.

[Dash]

We ( Mississippi State University ) blew a motor today. Its a mystery how, but working through the night to fix it! Trailering the vehicle for delivery tomorrow and driving up Monday night.

[Thrainer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by mech5496:
Are there any lists on Twitter to follow? ... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Try this one, with 125 followed FSAE teams, organisations and individuals. https://twitter.com/#!/amzracing/fsae

Good luck, eb011.

[TMichaels]

The Munich guys brought the eb011, not the eb012, if you are referring to that.

[mech5496]

Great to know that the eb011 will be there, this was one of my favorite e-cars last year. And someone please record some vids of it...I really regret not doing so in last years' FSG (especially the "unlimited" demo runs at the end of the day!

[revolutionary]

Well, we had to pull the plug on our trip this year. On the plus side, we dyno's the car tonight. On a Dyno Dynamics chassis dyno it made a best pull of 111hp and backed it up with a couple 109hp runs.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/542111_3980881927577_1446560427_3491369_1952836451 _n.jpg

[RacingManiac]

I live out in Rochester Hills, Michigan, next to Oakland University's campus. At 1:30am this morning I am pretty sure I heard them(or maybe they are hosting somebody) testing a FSAE car...at least its running...Not sure how well it'll pass noise if I can hear that across even a golf course in between though...

[BrendonD]

Might I request some #FSAE (https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23fsae) hashtag usage for everyone tweeting?

[Dr Tron]

I cant wait to get out of work... took monday and tuesday off but today is my last day (transition withing the company) so I had to show up.

[Mbirt]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RacingManiac:
I live out in Rochester Hills, Michigan, next to Oakland University's campus. At 1:30am this morning I am pretty sure I heard them(or maybe they are hosting somebody) testing a FSAE car...at least its running...Not sure how well it'll pass noise if I can hear that across even a golf course in between though... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>The Facebook status of OU's engine guy from 2:10 am last night confirms that they were indeed getting lots of practice in the wet. Haha.

Kettering now has a complete suspension. We'll see everyone in the morning.

[Mumpitz]

Yup, that was dry testing, lots of accel and an autocross course with a straight that would have put the exhaust pointing toward the golf course. Hope we didn't keep you up http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
We have been testing with an old muffler to preserve the virgin comp muffler for noise. We'll see how that goes tomorrow.

[RacingManiac]

I was more curious than anything else, I thought I was imagining things until I walked outside and heard the unmistakable sound of tire scrubbing....http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[TMichaels]

I am uploading my photos of today to Picasa. The photos are unfiltered and it may take some time, until all photos show up: http://goo.gl/photos/2yGC3cm9Nu

[PatClarke]

I can't access those pictures Tobi. Apart from the obvious (goo.gl) is the rest of the address correct

Thanx

Pat

[TMichaels]

Sorry,
I mixed up the link, this one should be correct:
FSAE-MI 2012 Wednesday (https://picasaweb.google.com/105516328773229091928/FSAEMI09052012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLPOzumippS9jgE&feat=directlink)

Please let me know, if this works.

[PatClarke]

Thats better Tobi, Thanks.

I hope all is going well there. I miss being there, but the doc must be obeyed

Cheers

Pat

[jpusb]

Wow the wings on the jayhawks car are huge as are the wings on the MS&T car. Awesome!! it is like they would cut a person in half if they ran into someone

I would love to be at MIS

[Scott Wordley]

Who does the awesome white aero package belong to?

Is it just me, or are there a lot more teams on Goodyears this year?

Should be a good comp, is any commentary or video going to be streamed?

[ed_pratt]

Scott,

Looks like they belong to South Dakota.
Interestingly, they're also using materials from Zyvex - CNT enhanced carbon fibres/epoxy resin - is this the first FSAE team making use of nanotubes? I've been trying to get some onto our car (PhD in nano-composites) but they're so difficult to deal with in their raw state and we don't have the cash to buy zyvex stuff!

[GianVioli]

Tobias said that 6 out of 9 design finalist are european.

My guess... Munich, Stuttgart, TU Graz, Helsinski, Oxford Brookes, Oregon, RIT, ETS and Kahrlsruhe.

what about yours?

[RyMan]

Helstinki is back?!?!?! I thought I saw a finnish car in pic 25 from Thomas's Wednesday album but I couldn't make out the name of the school. I guess all the students from the infamous 2008 competition have moved on.

How did RPI's frame pass tech? We had an eerily similar arrangement (we had more tubing though) at the front of our 2008/9 car and were told we had to add tubing at the last event held at VIR.

I like how Wisconsin's car looks like a pack of Winstons. I imagine it was one of those situations where instead of asking for permission, they decided to ask for forgiveness.

[flavorPacket]

here's my guess.

TU Fast
Helsinki
Wisconsin
TUG
Karlsruhe
ETS
GFR
Erlangen
Stuttgart

[Bill Riley]

2012 FSAE Michigan Design Finalists Announced

Official Results available at www.fsaeonline.com (http://www.fsaeonline.com) but copied here for reference.

These are the design finalists in car number order:

#001 Oregon State Univ
#002 Technical Univ of Munich
#003 Universitat Stuttgart
#004 Graz Univ of Technology
#005 Univ of Wisconsin - Madison
#011 Ecole De Technologie Superieure
#014 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
#049 Friedrich Alexander Univ of Erlang
#094 Rochester Institute of Technology
#118 Metropolia University of Applied Science

[TMichaels]

I will not comment your guesses regarding design finals. Just wait for the results to be published.

I did not take pictures today, since I was in design and electric vehicle inspection all day.

The big white aero package is indeed from South Dakota.

Quite some teams added an aero package and/or changed to 10" Hoosiers.

Stuttgart changed from Hoosiers to Goodyear.

TU Munich and U Kansas will do electric vehicle demonstration runs at the start of SkidPad, Acceleration and Autocross tomorrow.

Tomorrow evening we will know a lot more.

[RacingManiac]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bill Riley:
2012 FSAE Michigan Design Finalists Announced

Official Results available at www.fsaeonline.com (http://www.fsaeonline.com) but copied here for reference.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Who runs the www.FSAEonline.com (http://www.FSAEonline.com) site anyhow? I find it interesting that my pic is being used on that page...

[TMichaels]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PatClarke:
Thats better Tobi, Thanks.

I hope all is going well there. I miss being there, but the doc must be obeyed

Cheers

Pat </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I had a team in design today referring to Pat's corner http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[jpusb]

Any pics from day 2?

[VamP]

Does anyone know Cost result?

[JamesWolak]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by flavorPacket:
here's my guess.

TU Fast
Helsinki
Wisconsin
TUG
Karlsruhe
ETS
GFR
Erlangen
Stuttgart </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


You still post here?! If you are in michigan hit me up for a beer.

[Jeong-neon Kim]

Not design finals, but cost event result.
Please visit GFR's twitter. They uploaded it.

[TMichaels]

I just tweeted pictures of presentation and cost results.

[Anthony Casson]

Per and update from a teammate:

Unofficial AutoX (as of 5:06 p.m. EST)
1. KA-Racing (51.607)
2. GFR (51.697)
3. Missouri S&T (51.823)

Note: KA isn't using wings.

[The AFX Master]

Eons of not reading the forum... But may is for racing and dodging mothers day present hunt :P

Does anyone know if there will be a Ustream live Podcast of the endurance like the one SCCA did last year?.

I will be at home some thousand kilometers away from MIS wanting to hear it once more.

[GianVioli]

Any word on endurance running order?

[Shebert]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Any word on endurance running order? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


A.K.A. Autocross results.

[The AFX Master]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Shebert:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Any word on endurance running order? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


A.K.A. Autocross results. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not always true.. I remember a year (2009?) when AutoX order was overridden by a design finalists heat, and some other changes i can´t remember now

[GianVioli]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by The AFX Master:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Shebert:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Any word on endurance running order? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


A.K.A. Autocross results. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not always true.. I remember a year (2009?) when AutoX order was overridden by a design finalists heat, and some other changes i can´t remember now </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You can always get the Autocross Results out of the Endurance Running Order if you pay enough atenttion to it http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[SAE_intl_girl]

NOTE FROM EVENT CAPTAIN:

The Endurance course walk for drivers is rescheduled to 8:00 - 8:45 am Saturday. Endurance start time remains at 9:00 am sharp. First cars running must be staged by 8:45 am.

Endurance Run Order Below


Formula SAE Michigan 2012
Ford Endurance Run Order
Group 1 Teams
Sequence/Car Number /School Name
1 117 Southern Illinois Univ - Carbondale
2 112 Temple Univ
3 102 Bradley Univ
4 86 Cooper Union
5 76 Penn State Univ - University Park
6 56 Ryerson Univ
7 24 Universite de Sherbrooke
8 13 Univ of South Florida
9 41 Louisiana State Univ
10 51 Univ of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
11 100 North Carolina A & T State Univ
12 92 Washington State Univ
13 44 Washington Univ - St Louis
14 96 Univ of Guelph
15 75 Northwestern Univ
16 61 York College of Pa
17 43 Brown Univ
18 129 Vanderbilt Univ
19 37 Univ of Hartford
20 90 Univ of North Florida
21 106 Old Dominion Univ
22 26 Lafayette College
23 36 Univ of Waterloo
24 114 Univ of Evansville
25 15 US Naval Academy
26 32 Univ of St Thomas
27 116 Univ of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh
28 84 Univ of Maine
29 34 National Univ of Singapore
30 74 Texas Tech Univ
31 64 Univ of Manitoba
32 127 Univ of Connecticut
33 94 Rochester Institute of Technology
34 20 Univ of Central Florida
35 68 Southern Polytechnic State Univ
36 46 Columbia Univ
37 87 Univ of Windsor
38 57 Carnegie Mellon Univ
39 17 US Air Force Academy
40 82 Kumoh National Institute of Technology
41 31 Lakehead Univ
42 40 Lehigh Univ
43 108 Univ of Minnesota - Twin Cities
44 105 Queen's Univ - Ontario Canada
45 8 Univ of Akron

Formula SAE Michigan 2012
Ford Endurance Run Order
Group 2 Teams
Sequence/ Car Number/ School Name
1 88 Mississippi State Univ
2 97 Villanova Univ
3 59 North Carolina State Univ - Raleigh
4 27 Michigan State Univ
5 79 Univ of Cincinnati
6 48 Concordia University
7 52 Univ of New Hampshire
8 50 San Jose State University
9 99 Oklahoma State Univ
10 111 Univ of Western Ontario
11 67 Georgia Institute of Technology
12 78 McGill Univ
13 73 Universite Laval
14 65 Western Washington Univ
15 19 Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst
16 54 Univ of Michigan - Dearborn
17 77 Kansas State Univ
18 47 Dalhousie Univ
19 35 Oakland University
20 93 Universite Du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres
21 16 Universidad Simon Bolivar
22 42 Kookmin Univ
23 80 Cornell Univ
24 66 Massachusetts Inst of Tech
25 29 Univ of Florida
26 33 Univ of Victoria
27 71 Clemson Univ
28 120 Virginia Tech
29 21 Rose Hulman Inst of Tech
30 115 Georgia Southern Univ
31 39 Auburn Univ
32 107 Univ of Missouri
33 5 Univ of Wisconsin - Madison
34 58 Rutgers Univ
35 62 Univ of Toledo
36 11 Ecole De Technologie Superieure
37 49 Friedrich Alexander Univ of Erlangen
38 119 UAS Esslingen
39 89 Duke Univ
40 9 Univ of Kansas - Lawrence
41 6 Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
42 4 Graz Univ of Technology
43 3 Universitat Stuttgart
44 118 Metropolia University of Applied Science
45 109 Oxford Brookes Univ
46 30 South Dakota Sch of Mines & Tech
47 2 Technical Univ of Munich
48 45 Missouri University of Science and Tech
49 1 Oregon State Univ
50 14 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

[floRACEca]

Here are a few pics from days 1-3 of comp... If you would like high resolutions ones feel free to message me on FB. Thanks...

Day 3:
http://www.facebook.com/media/...&type=1&l=1f727d0ba0 (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3457367747763.148829.1077931174&type=1&l=1f727d0ba0)

Day 2:
http://www.facebook.com/media/...&type=3&l=04f372d8c1 (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3453334006922.148770.1077931174&type=3&l=04f372d8c1)

Day 1:
http://www.facebook.com/media/...&type=3&l=8c4b17645b (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3446696880998.148654.1077931174&type=3&l=8c4b17645b)

[TMichaels]

I am currently uploading my pictures (unsorted) from today here: FSAE-MI 2012 Friday (https://picasaweb.google.com/105516328773229091928/FSAEMI11052012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPOI6unp4ZSsWg&feat=directlink)

[The Neck]

Any word on the top teams from design finals?

[Mikko Ahola]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RyMan:
Helstinki is back?!?!?! I thought I saw a finnish car in pic 25 from Thomas's Wednesday album but I couldn't make out the name of the school. I guess all the students from the infamous 2008 competition have moved on.

How did RPI's frame pass tech? We had an eerily similar arrangement (we had more tubing though) at the front of our 2008/9 car and were told we had to add tubing at the last event held at VIR.

I like how Wisconsin's car looks like a pack of Winstons. I imagine it was one of those situations where instead of asking for permission, they decided to ask for forgiveness. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, Helsinki goes by the name Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and runs with the number 118.

I think there are few guys present from our 2008 group of shame also. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Daniel Shor]

I can attest a bit to RPI's frame, having helped build it in the past. The carbon panels in the car are actually a structural component. We submit an SEF form and testing data for the panels. We used 029 and have had to increase thickness to the minimum tube thickness. The judges used to take issue with the thinner tubing we would use, and have mandated the increase. The frame has been tested in comparison to a steel frame with the carbon replaced with cross bracing. It's all pretty safe.

So thats how we pass tech. I can get some chassis guys to answer specific questions if you're really curious.

[Mazur]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by revolutionary:
Well, we had to pull the plug on our trip this year. On the plus side, we dyno's the car tonight. On a Dyno Dynamics chassis dyno it made a best pull of 111hp and backed it up with a couple 109hp runs.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/542111_3980881927577_1446560427_3491369_1952836451 _n.jpg </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This was done on your YZF450R? What's your general setup?

[Ben K]

How has nobody mentioned Penn State's fireball during endurance....

I was on track and it was def a high pressure fuel leak. Unbelievably huge ball of fire. Luckily everyone was ok.

Since Carnegie was the first racecar on the new paved surface, I guess Penn State gets the distinction of first fire....

Also. The electric cars from TU Munich and Kansas were unbelievable. We should create an electric section on this forum and get this competition off the ground for next year.

Ben

[revolutionary]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mazur:
This was done on your YZF450R? What's your general setup? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

We were far from getting our yfz450 car done with just a few of us working on it so we went back and tried to get the car we built last year up to spec to run. At the last minute our advisor pulled the plug though so we didn't show with either car. That car has a cbr600rr with a GT12 turbo and 20mm restrictor. Check the video
http://youtu.be/qyCGVqDJcWw

[gtmsracer]

Any more results? The final results should already be known. Top 10? This thread has been unusually dead compared to years past.

[spam2128]

FStotal.com's page on facebook has uploaded picures of the unofficial results.


top 10:

GFR
Karlsruhe
Stuttgart
Munich
Michigan - AA
Graz
Metropolia
ETS
Erlangen
Wisconsin

They have almost the entire order on their page as well.

[Tech Guy]

Can't help but notice the number of European (and quasi-European) teams (GFR) in the top 10.

Out of interest, are any of the members of those teams willing to say if the cars at MIS were the same cars that competed in 2011 at FS (Silverstone) or FSG (Hockenheim)?

[Ben K]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tech Guy:
Can't help but notice the number of European (and quasi-European) teams (GFR) in the top 10.

Out of interest, are any of the members of those teams willing to say if the cars at MIS were the same cars that competed in 2011 at FS (Silverstone) or FSG (Hockenheim)? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm pretty sure most of the Euro cars were cars that have competed before.

[flavorPacket]

I believe all the Euro cars except GFR have been used in a previous competition.

[squirrelboy]

All Euro cars were 2011 cars, as it mostly is at MIS

[nick roberts]

For anyone interested the video from our e car demo is posted. This is the first driver on the endurance course after all combustion cars finished. We got ~3 laps with our second driver before our BMS threw a fault, limiting power. Not sure what caused that yet as we still had voltage in both battery banks.

Fast lap was ~51.633 with the fastest combustion car running 51.0??.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhfN5ZyWpOY

-Nick
University of Kansas

[Crispy]

Oxford Brooks was also running a new car.

[Kirk Feldkamp]

Haha. Did the organizers decide to dramatically simplify the layout of the autocross/endurance course this year, or is that how MIS always is?! That's like Formula Slalom. Reminds me of sweet 80's skateboarding competitions. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYSr-Sft4Zk)

-Kirk

[jpusb]

Having driven 3 different endurances myself in 2008, 2009 and 2010, I also think that this track was VERY wide, and fast. Maybe fast enough not to be easy, at least to do the consistent 52s, but still too forgiving. Endurances total times were VERY low.
2011 was something like that too.

I particulary don't mind the more open faster tracks. The only issue I see is that from what I see in videos, european FStudent competitions don't have tracks like these but instead they stick with the tighter type of track. There should be a more general trend I think.

[mech5496]

Haha, I was totally impressed by electric cars too, when I first saw them running. Given the advantage on efficiency (fuel) we should have an interesting event at FSUK with merged categories. Other than that, here are some interesting statistics:

http://www.facebook.com/permal...8445&id=158738688444 (http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150818220458445&id=158738688444)

Does anybody knows why did Brookes DNF?Actually it would be intereting to get a list with all DNF's/ causes (it helps a bit trying to dial out unreliability and probable causes from your won car...)

[MegaDeath]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jpusb:
Having driven 3 different endurances myself in 2008, 2009 and 2010, I also think that this track was VERY wide, and fast. Maybe fast enough not to be easy, at least to do the consistent 52s, but still too forgiving. Endurances total times were VERY low.
2011 was something like that too.

I particulary don't mind the more open faster tracks. The only issue I see is that from what I see in videos, european FStudent competitions don't have tracks like these but instead they stick with the tighter type of track. There should be a more general trend I think. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have a feeling that the faster track design this year was intentional after the disaster of the endurance event in 2011 where the track design was painfully slow and the event didn't end until 7PM.

[Mbirt]

I noticed street car tire marks on the course during the Thursday course walk--a dead giveaway that it would be fast. Did anyone see street cars driving the course?

What did everyone think of the E85? I watched Stuttgart have trouble starting in the noise warmup area. Kansas State and SDSM&T had trouble starting on it. Now that Sunoco has released a racing grade E85 (E85R), the time is right to push the organizers to make the switch. Then we will know exactly what fuel we'll be receiving at the competition.

[StevenWebb]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jpusb:
Having driven 3 different endurances myself in 2008, 2009 and 2010, I also think that this track was VERY wide, and fast. Maybe fast enough not to be easy, at least to do the consistent 52s, but still too forgiving. Endurances total times were VERY low.
2011 was something like that too.

I particulary don't mind the more open faster tracks. The only issue I see is that from what I see in videos, european FStudent competitions don't have tracks like these but instead they stick with the tighter type of track. There should be a more general trend I think. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Anyone complaining of tight tracks will get no sympathy from Australians!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjjKykBBCkA
When we went to FSUK in 2010 our tires got destroyed because we werent expecting the high speed corners we saw at Silverstone.

[RacingManiac]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jpusb:
Having driven 3 different endurances myself in 2008, 2009 and 2010, I also think that this track was VERY wide, and fast. Maybe fast enough not to be easy, at least to do the consistent 52s, but still too forgiving. Endurances total times were VERY low.
2011 was something like that too.

I particulary don't mind the more open faster tracks. The only issue I see is that from what I see in videos, european FStudent competitions don't have tracks like these but instead they stick with the tighter type of track. There should be a more general trend I think. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've been only been spectating since the comp moved to MIS. But the track used to be MUCH faster in the days when it was at Ford Romeo Proving Ground in 2006 and 2007. I still remember the 4th gear sweeper...I think it was 2007 when wing car dominated the autoX on Friday, only for the organizer put in a much slower section for enduro, then the Western Australia car just dominated...To be fair, I do believe the rule have a different average speed requirement for autoX and enduro, with the former being faster.

The layout with the track on the back stretch of the NASCAR oval pretty much limited what the layout could be though. You are stuck with a pretty narrow and long area that you have to run back and forth on...

As as far as street car tire mark goes, every FSAE course to my knowledge were first driven by the track designed on some kind of road car to check....even the Formula Student courses(that are usually much tighter), I still remember Mr. Royce used to drive the UK course in his rental...

[TMichaels]

At FSG we setup the course by doing test drives with FSAE cars from former saisons. That usually works well to sort out any passages which are not fluent and makes sure, that the course is not too slow or fast.

[Fantomas]

As far as I know, the cars had to drive 20 laps, which leads to a lap length of 0.683miles. The average lap time of the faster cars was around 52s.
0.683miles/52s = 0.0131miles/s =&gt; 47.3mph which is far from being rules compliant (max average speed 35.4mph).

[jpusb]

@Steven Webb: I totally understand that, the same happens for us testing in a karting track in Venezuela and then coming to MIS and having all these changes of direction and the faster (and cooler track). It is really confusing (we practice in Ven usually at 52C track temp. or around that). But at least during my years we learned how to extrapolate that to the conditions in MIS to make the tires work and to keep balance. It is a shame that we could only attend one competition a year because you learn so much (as a driver and from the vehicle dynamics point of view). We could never extrapolate so well for skidpad though.

The endurance course in 2009 was tight, but had some really fast sections and straights, I pulled 4th gear for quite a long time there. The 2010 track, although being a little too short, was INSANE, I loved it.

[TMichaels]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Ben Kolodner:
Also. The electric cars from TU Munich and Kansas were unbelievable. We should create an electric section on this forum and get this competition off the ground for next year. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

A lot of things were already discussed here
FSG Forum FSE Section (http://www.formulastudent.de/fsg/forums/)
and here
FS UK FAQ (http://teams.formulastudent.com/faq/FAQ.aspx)

[floRACEca]

Here are pics from the endurance:

A.M. Session:
http://www.facebook.com/media/...&type=1&l=79d07101a8 (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3474632619374.149293.1077931174&type=1&l=79d07101a8)

P.M. Session:
http://www.facebook.com/media/...&type=1&l=69c130742b (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3474719301541.149295.1077931174&type=1&l=69c130742b)

Feel free to message me on FB for high resolution pics of your car.

[mmw2753]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Ben Kolodner:
How has nobody mentioned Penn State's fireball during endurance....

I was on track and it was def a high pressure fuel leak. Unbelievably huge ball of fire. Luckily everyone was ok.

Since Carnegie was the first racecar on the new paved surface, I guess Penn State gets the distinction of first fire....

Also. The electric cars from TU Munich and Kansas were unbelievable. We should create an electric section on this forum and get this competition off the ground for next year.

Ben </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I got a terrible video of it.
https://www.facebook.com/photo...87&set=vb.1563690157 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1655531999187&set=vb.1563690157)

[Fantomas]

There were also two or three cars that crashed into barriers. Although I agree, that drivers should be aware of the barrier position and probably not push, if these are too close, I still question their position. Especially at the start-finish-line. There was plenty of space to put them 6 feet or more away of the track instead of putting them, Monaco like, directly at the track.

[rollcentre]

Having been graduated from FSAE for a while now, I step back now and think how amazing this is:

You have three wildly different cars running of three different compound/manufacture tires (hoosier 10", hoosier 13", goodyear 13") with three amateur drivers that haven't seen each other in competition for a year, getting two runs per driver, and they still manage to be within 0.2s of each other.

[MegaDeath]

Results are up. They're posted under the California results for some reason.
http://www.sae.org/students/fsae2012result.pdf

[Rich Reichenbach]

Hopefully this works, I haven't shared any dropbox links before.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vi7d...0Results%202012.xlsx (https://www.dropbox.com/s/vi7deh0c6h0655f/Formula%20SAE%20Results%202012.xlsx)

I have a sheet that I used to compare events and team scores, as well as simply having all of the scores in a consistent delimited format, as opposed to copy-pasting from the pdf.

[floRACEca]

Here are pictures from both Award Ceremonies sponsored by GM:
http://www.facebook.com/media/...&type=1&l=f35e86e9b4 (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3481752637370.149405.1077931174&type=1&l=f35e86e9b4)

[RStory]

Here's some photos, mostly from autocross, still need to go through endurance shots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/r...s/72157629728502784/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertstory/sets/72157629728502784/)

[TMichaels]

My pictures from Endurance day (only a few as I was busy tweeting):
FSAE-MI 12.05.2012 (https://picasaweb.google.com/105516328773229091928/FSAEMI12052012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKKhlJv5vevYXg&feat=directlink)

[Umur Selek]

https://www.facebook.com/media...9773472379226&type=3 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.402857336404170.89160.109773472379226&type=3)

[RStory]

Added some photos from endurance to the same set as before: http://www.flickr.com/photos/r...s/72157629728502784/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertstory/sets/72157629728502784/)

[TStrickl]

Does anyone have a .zip file or something of pictures as they were walking around the paddock area from the 2012 competition in Michigan? I can't find my memory card with those pictures on.