After every component is mounted onto the chassis, the car's performance is evaluated. Inertia is calculated by suspending the vehicle in the air to see how the weight is distributed and which way it tends to rotate. Once the data is processed, the appropriate components, including the suspension, are adjusted before any track test is even performed. Also, for safety's sake, crash tests are conducted to make sure the nose of the car meets Canadian standards.
When everything checks out, the machine can finally hit the tarmac... which it craves! These tests are vital because they not only allow students to fine-tune the car but also to gauge its durability. Not a single day goes by without the car being put to the test. Everyone wants to see breaks and failures... so they can correct them in time for the competition.
Formula SAE is a great opportunity for students to work together on a project that develops their passion for automobiles and engineering. They put their hearts and souls into this because they want to shine at Brooklyn, Michigan. ETS students have already been rewarded for all their efforts; their car won a first-place prize in 2007 for design quality and braking performance. This year, the team is even more confident and has set the bar even higher. We'll see how they fare in just a couple of days as Auto123.com will attend the competition.
photo:Philippe Champoux
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When everything checks out, the machine can finally hit the tarmac... which it craves! These tests are vital because they not only allow students to fine-tune the car but also to gauge its durability. Not a single day goes by without the car being put to the test. Everyone wants to see breaks and failures... so they can correct them in time for the competition.
Formula SAE is a great opportunity for students to work together on a project that develops their passion for automobiles and engineering. They put their hearts and souls into this because they want to shine at Brooklyn, Michigan. ETS students have already been rewarded for all their efforts; their car won a first-place prize in 2007 for design quality and braking performance. This year, the team is even more confident and has set the bar even higher. We'll see how they fare in just a couple of days as Auto123.com will attend the competition.
photo:Philippe Champoux
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