Formula Fail

[insert explicit here]

The 2008 season was a bitter experience for the RIT FSAE Racing Team. After showing up in Detroit with a solid and sorted car, a radiator cap failure led to a DNF in the endurance race, knocking the team out of a predicted podium finish and all the way to 27th place.

Last week the team arrived in Germany with high hopes of kicking European ass. Bringing with them lessons learned from Detroit and the experience of an additional month of testing and driver training, their hopes looked to be fulfilled. After a 3rd in acceleration, a 2nd in cost events and a 4th overall in autoX, the team headed to the endurance race grid with cautious confidence. They were poised for another top finish but it would not transpire.

Five laps into the second driver's 11-lap stint and the car shut down, ending the competition with another DNF. Preliminary diagnosis of the problem points to the fuel system. The team plummeted to 26th place.

As a member of the team, I feel as though I have been stabbed several times and I didn't even attend the races. It goes without saying that the team has out forth tremendous effort and all members should be proud of the accomplishments of the past year:

- A new chassis; its light, its fast, its solid and it wasn't a problem (once we got it built!). Now it's up to The Hammer to sort out the bugs and please, no geometry-class jigs this year.

- Redesigned braking system; lighter, stronger and easier to manufacture. This group isn't slowing down. Good luck to Double D getting it done for next year.

What does the team have on tap for next year? Given the competitive nature of FSAE, any advances will be under wraps until next May. Hint: It's all about DA FLOWS!

Charles explains why the team was tearing into the car the day of tech inspection: Video

_ttk3

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