Formula Vancougs brings together all majors to build a formula race car for competition in 2021
A WSU Vancouver club hopes to use teamwork to race through the finish line. The Formula VanCougs aspire to construct a race car from scratch and participate in the national Formula Society of Automotive Engineers competition in June 2021.
Influenced by the Pullman formula team, Wazzu Racing, Formula Vancougs was established roughly two years ago. Club president and electrical engineering junior, Curtis Haley, said they received an internal combustion frame from the Pullman team, which inspired the club’s establishment on the Vancouver campus.
Haley explained that the club might have to rebuild the frame but, “it was a good piece to draw people to our club, to be interested in what they can actually build.”
The club intends to present a thoroughly tested, functional vehicle within the next two years for the national Formula SAE competition.
The competition takes place in California, where hundreds of collegiate teams gather to test their vehicles. Duncan Marks, vice president of Formula Vancougs and junior mechanical engineering major said, “We’re taking a two year cycle to do it, because it’s actually a yearly thing. We’re taking it a little slower so that we can do it right, and learn everything we need to know.”
Much of the process that goes into building a race car has to do with research and testing. Currently, Formula VanCougs are working on design. “I think half the project is just designing the car and half the project is building the car,” Haley said.
The national Formula SAE competition requires teams to adhere to specific regulations in the published rule manual. Teams are expected to understand each aspect presented and produce work efficiently.
Formula Vancougs is planning an endurance test to ensure proper function. “We’re going to make a large sphere and try to roll it around the track, it’s gonna be like a big blob. And that will give us our energy constraints because we have to meet a certain amount of endurance to actually qualify for some parts of the race,” Haley said.
Marks explained that most team members have not worked on an electrical system as large as this car before. “We need to figure out all these different constraints and how we can build things to fit into that rulebook. Because, if it doesn’t fit, then we can’t compete,” Marks said.
Communication lead for the club, Shane McCormick, a junior strategic communications major, said Formula Vancougs is not only about engineering, but also the publicity, fundraising and business aspects that surround the construction of a race car. “The rest of us are operating like a small business. We’re trying to figure out how to get started, gain chemistry together, but were also trying to raise money and actually get our club off the ground,” McCormick said.
Many parts needed to build a race car are expensive and the club hopes to gain sponsorships from local and national engineering companies to fund their endeavors. Formula Vancougs hope to raise a minimum of $30,000 to fund their club within the next year. They estimate this will cover the cost of materials needed to construct a working combustion race car.
McCormick explained that WSU Vancouver has funds set aside to support clubs, but their funding will not suffice their expenses.
To help raise money, the club is sending out letters to people in the industry that have donated to SAE clubs in the past. “We just have to see how that initial round goes and either be happy with it, or amp up our efforts,” McCormick said.
Additionally, Formula Vancougs want to establish their own working space at WSU Vancouver. The race car frame is currently stored in a club member’s garage, but they hope to have a work-oriented area on campus to begin assembly.
Marks said, “The cool thing about having a shop on campus would be the community aspect of it, where it could really help build the team into a more cohesive unit between all of the different subteams and majors that are working as part of the club. It could really help be that one unifying spot. That’s why that’s such a big goal for us.”
In addition to the members of the club who have mechanical or electrical engineering experience, Formula Vancougs welcomes all majors to participate.
“It doesn’t matter if you are an electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, fine arts major [or] education major. We’ll find a way that you can become a valuable member of our team,” McCormick said.
“We’re going to raise money, we’re going to build a car and everybody has to do their little part to make that happen,” McCormick said.
Olivia is a senior studying English at WSU Vancouver.