A team of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students recently competed at the Formula SAE West competition, held June 13-16, 2007 at the California Speedway in Fontana, California. The School of Mines finished in sixth place overall against 80 registered teams. The competition consists of eight separate events including design, cost, manufacturing, sales presentation, skid-pad, acceleration, autocross and endurance.
Of these events, the team took tenth place in sales presentation, tied for sixth place in design (which marks the School of Mines team's first time in the design semi-finals), sixth place in autocross and seventh place in endurance. The team also placed third in the Design Communication Award presented by Autodesk.
Students conceive, design, fabricate and compete with small formula-style racing cars. The restrictions on the car frame and engine are limited so that the knowledge, creativity, and imagination of the students are challenged. The cars are built with a team effort over a period of about one year and are taken to the annual competition for judging and comparison with vehicles from colleges and universities throughout the world.
In addition to the team’s success, team advisor Dr. Dan Dolan was the recipient of the highest award which can be bestowed on any Formula SAE Advisor, the Carroll Smith Mentors Cup Award. The main criteria for the award is that the recipient will have given extraordinarily of personal time and expertise to help the students become professional engineers, will have developed a personal relationship with the team members and will have set a positive role model. This award recognizes Dr. Dan Dolan for his time and effort contributed to the development of project-based learning at the School of Mines.
Formula SAE team members: Chris Atkins, mechanical engineering, San Diego, California; John Farmerie, Sedalia, Colorado; Scott Ferris, mechanical engineering, Archer, Nebraska; Jason Fields, mechanical engineering, Milbank; Aaron Guliuzza, mechanical engineering, Rapid City; Clay Hammock, mechanical engineering and computer engineering, Sturgis; Chad Kirby, mechanical engineering, Rapid City; James Lunders, mechanical engineering, Rapid City; Andy Pautsch, computer science, Gaylord, Minnesota; Clay Pojorlie, mechanical engineering and computer engineering, Grassy Butte, Nebraska; Nolan Pray, mechanical engineering, Sioux Falls; Nick Proceive, mechanical engineering, Belfield, North Dakota; Casey Ritz, mechanical engineering, Mandan, North Dakota; Mark Sattgast, mechanical engineering, Huron; Wes Snaza, mechanical engineering, Webster; Adam Steffes, mechanical engineering, Bristol; Nathan Zastrow, mechanical engineering, Big Timber, Montana.