Formula SAE Team Finishes well in National Competition

University Park, Pa.–The Penn State Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) team placed
17th overall at Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds May 16-20 at the annual Formula SAE Competition.
More than 100 teams participated in the competition. Penn State placed among the top five in the
acceleration, skid pad design and overall design categories. For the first time in many years, the team
also fared well in the cost competition, placing ninth.

Participants were challenged to conceive, design, fabricate and compete with small formulastyle
racing cars. Students’ knowledge, creativity and imagination are key, given the limited
restrictions and specifications for the car frame and engine.

The competition was an eye-opening experience for some first-time team members. “I had
seen pictures of last year’s competition, but there was nothing like the real thing. It was tiring, but I
can’t wait to come back next year,” said first-year engineering student Colleen Zwilcher.
Sponsorship and support came from multiple sources, including General Motors, Shell and
DaimlerChrysler.

“They have already begun to plan for next year's competition, with an eye toward placing
first,” says Gita Talmage, professor of mechanical engineering and the team’s faculty adviser. “The
team has brought very real honor to the University.”

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The Penn State FSAE Team would like to recognize Carson Baird who provides invaluable guidance to the Penn State FSAE Team.  They would also like to acknowledge the support of Donna Gensimore for her assistance. The Team would also like to acknowledge the support of Curtis Chan, Maurine Claver, Dave Fishburn and the PTI Test Track, Phillip Irwin, La Rue Jacobs, Dan Kiely, Gary Langsdale, Greg Laur, the Learning Factory, Matthew Lindenberg, Brian Lowery, Larry Millinder, Gary Neal, Teri Noll, Robert Royer, Holly Seidel, Karen Thole, Stefanie Tomlinson, and Patrick Williams. 

The funding from ARL, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Shell, the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Engineering Undergraduate Council Allocations Committee (Liz Olson), and the University Park Allocations Committee was essential to the Team's success.