FSAE Michigan 2010
So our competitions are over for this year. We have made some big progress with our car compared to last years, but it didn’t help us at the event much. We saved 130lbs over last years car getting us down to 560lbs wet without driver, and much of that was out of the upright/hub/wheel assembly removing 20lbs off each corner reducing unsprung mass. We were feeling good heading in, although we had had about a half hour of testing with low levels of grip the car looked good and if we only had minor problems we might of had a chance, but it didn’t go that way. We had to make two trips through tech inspection, wasted a day trying to pass the sound test ( we where way too loud ), and then were having trouble passing the brake test where we have to lock up all four tires at the same time. Through out the whole time Adam and Kin kept trying to make the engine work its best even though we kept changing mufflers trying to shut the thing up. When we finally had enough power to get some momentum to pass brakes we broke a rod end in the front suspension. The loads going through the front spring assembly was just too much and after several fixes, and the braking of new components we tore a bell crank mount off the frame and with 10 min before the open call for the enduro we tossed in our hats for the day. We are already starting on the next car, and are focusing on getting it done early with plenty of testing. The Baja team also learned this lesson having a car that could have easily finished in the top 20 only to be knocked down to 41st. with little issues. And with that said, this should be my last post, I have graduated some how and although I will be around I hope someone else can figure this out better than I can. Thanks to all that have helped us out along the way. Being from Chicago I feel that I always am saying that next year will be our year but it just might be.
Pictures from the build to comp
Thanks again,
Eliott Nudd
