MSU Formula Racing Team

It’s that time of year again! The Michigan State Formula Racing Team will begin looking for new members to join its ranks in the coming weeks. MSU FSAE, one of the most highly regarded student-led organizations, serves as a valuable and exciting experience in your career. Gain knowledge and hands-on experience with the complete manufacturing process of a race car, learn to work with corporate sponsors, and publicize new events. We’re looking for students from EVERY major! Engineering,...

In case you haven’t noticed, the Michigan State University Formula Racing Team has been pretty busy getting for the new year. Soon, a new car will begin to take form, and to celebrate the recent changes, we have launched a new website. We hope the new site will make it easy for students, faculty, sponsors, and other visitors to learn more about the team and cultivate a greater bond between the team and its fans. You’ll notice that the site features an extensive array of new media and...

Big thanks to Logic Supply who donated the computer for Car 12! The computer is utilized as an on-board Telemetry Computer which reads in the data from our Data Logger and Engine Controller Unit (ECU) via the available USB ports. Utilizing the on-board system allows the team to increase the efficiency of testing sessions with the ability to review engine parameters and various other data channels in real, time via a USB radio modem, without having to sacrifice the conditions produced by simulated...

Gorgeous weather, excited bystanders, and a very enthusiastic team of MSU students, alumni and supporters barely paints a picture of the kick of to the 2009 Cherry Festival Parade earlier this morning. The team joined the MSU Alumni Association, MSU Dance Team, and Sparty as we marched through downtown traverse city and local neighborhoods. Car 51 ran perfectly all morning thanks to a strong effort from new team leaders who performed an clutch swap the week prior which involves removing the entire...

Today, the MSU Formula Racing Team attended the Hagerty Family Car Show in downtown Traverse City. Although the theme was UofM vs. MSU, it made for a fun and energetic atmosphere. Car 51 was displayed next to UofM’s 2008 Solar Car, both of which drew a tremendous amount of traffic. As always the questions came rolling in about the program, its affiliation with the University, and what exactly we do. Events like the Hagerty Family Car Show are exciting because it allows team members to talk...

Team members continue to work hard to get Car 12 finished; relinquishing their personal lives in order to finish fabrication. Take a look at the various areas that are currently works in progress. Click to show as pictures as slideshow

Tonight the plugs came back for Car 12’s sidepods. Team alumni Jon Luckhardt’s uncle was kind enough to offer up the services of his business to do the machining based upon Aero Team Leader James Guitar’s design. In record time, the plugs went from blocks of Huntsman Corporation Renshape to the sculpted plugs that you see here. Thanks to Jon and his family for their generosity and support of our program! Click to show as pictures as slideshow ...

Team members continue to leapfrog from class to the race car shop each day to work on Car 12. In case some of you aren’t familiar with the average work schedule of an MSU Formula SAE Team member, it goes something like this: Monday, 5-6 pm: arrive at shop Monday, 12-3 am: leave shop, barely still awake Tuesday: Repeat Monday’s schedule Wednesday: Repeat Monday’s schedule, include General Team Meeting at 7 pm Thursday: Repeat Monday’s schedule Friday: Repeat Monday’s...

A tonight’s general meeting, the first Most Dedicated Team Members 2009 were announced. As has occasionally happened in the past with this award, we had a tie. Both Scott Smith and Brian Smith worked extremely hard during January, seemingly never leaving the shop. Though this was the case with many people, it was felt amongst senior team members that both Scott and Brian had really distinguished themselves over and above everyone with the time they put into the team and their constant positive...

It’s been a little while since we posted up pictures of what team members spend the vast majority of their time doing: fabrication. Here are a few pictures highlighting the many late nights that have carried through into early mornings for team members of the past few weeks. Click to show as pictures as slideshow ...