Our design direction was selected early in the process of sketching out the first vehicle.

The competition rules allow a maximum displacement of 610cc. The standard engine choice is a 600cc 4-cylinder motorcycle engine. A smaller, lighter, and more compact 450cc single-cylinder engine was selected for the direct weight savings and the additional weight reduction from the smaller frame required to carry it. The result was a compact, nimble package. With further development it has the potential to outmaneuver the bulkier vehicles designed for maximum power.

The 2008 design focus was on a simple reliable package that was within our capability to manufacture, assemble, and maintain. The result was a car that ran throughout the three days of competition without mechanical difficulty and passed technical inspection on the first attempt, an extremely rare achievement for a first-year vehicle.

2008 FSAE Michigan Highlights

2nd place Rookie Team

37th out of 120 in Design Event

Vehicle Specifications

• Suzuki LT-R450 engine

• TIG welded 4130 chrome-moly space frame

• Non-parallel, double wishbone suspension

• Inboard-mounted springs and dampers

• Custom-tuned MegaSquirt ECU

• 5 speed sequential manual transmission

• Limited slip differential

• Goodyear D2692 20.0×7.0×13.0 racing slicks