Terps Take Formula SAE Racing Title

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A Maryland Formula SAE race car

The Terps Racing team won the Formula SAE West 2008 on Saturday, held at California Speedway in Fontana, California. During the four-day event, the team placed first overall out of 83 teams from all over the world in the Formula SAE car contest.

Five electrical and computer engineering (ECE) undergraduate students participated on the Formula SAE racing team, plus ECE grad student Mike Stanley, together with 20 other engineering undergrads. Stanley, who participated on the Formula SAE team for two years as an undergraduate, served as a test driver and driving instructor, as well as electrical engineer and engine adviser to the team this year.

At the competition, judges rated the cars in seven categories, with the combined score comprising a team’s overall place. The Terps Racing car had the following results:

* 1st in acceleration

* 3rd in skidpad

* 4th in autocross

* 4th in endurance/fuel economy

* 6th in cost

* 9th in presentation

* Tied for 10th in design

Teams from universities and colleges from the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Sweden, Brazil, China, Mexico, Canada and Venezuela competed at California Speedway, as well as several dozen from across the U.S.

For more information on Terps Racing and its Baja and Formula SAE cars, visit http://www.terpsracing.umd.edu/formula/.

Published June 30, 2008