Photo by Jayson Carey, Owner – Eye Level Media www.eyelevelstl.com

Missouri University of Science and Technology’s Formula Car Design Team will travel approximately 900 miles to race at the Formula SAE-North competition in Toronto.

The event, a national student design competition sponsored by SAE International, is June 2-5. The competition challenges students to design, build and operate small-scale cars. Missouri S&T’s team will compete against over 100 other teams from around the world.

During the competition, a skid-pad event tests the car’s turning and cornering on a figure-eight-shaped course. An acceleration test measures the car’s speed over a short distance. A one-lap autocross event proves the car’s maneuverability on a tight course and determines the starting order for the final event – an endurance race to prove durability. In the endurance race, the car must withstand the stress of long-term driving at elevated speeds. Each race is timed to rank the teams; none of the events are head-to-head races.

Missouri S&T’s car features a modified Kawasaki engine that can propel the vehicle to speeds of up to approximately 65 mph during the competition’s endurance race. The car has undergone several hours of wind tunnel testing to help the team design a custom aerodynamics package. Its custom fittings produce a large amount of downward force and are designed to help the car’s tires grip the track better.

Alex Mills, a senior in petroleum engineering from Springfield, Missouri, is the Formula SAE team leader. Dr. Hank Pernicka, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Missouri S&T, is the Formula SAE Team’s faculty advisor. For more information about the event, visit formulanorth.com.

The following students will represent Missouri S&T:

Mason Auch, a sophomore in engineering management from Rolla, Missouri

Ian Beckler, a junior in aerospace engineering from Peoria, Illinois

Doug Bross, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Palmyra, Missouri

Dustin Camden, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Salem, Missouri

Nick Capps, a junior in mechanical engineering from Fenton, Missouri

Ty Crabtree, a freshman in computer science from St. James, Missouri

Xavier Hoffman, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Troy, Illinois

Chris English, a sophomore in engineering from Florissant, Missouri

Francisco Gallardo, a senior in mechanical engineering from Branson, Missouri

Jarrett Harkless, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Wentzville, Missouri

Deven Head, a senior in mechanical engineering from Aurora, Missouri

Skylar Knoll, a senior in mechanical engineering from Washburn, Missouri

Lucas Krenitsky, a junior in engineering from Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Luke Lanning, a sophomore in engineering from Parkville, Missouri

Brett Mahan, a sophomore in civil engineering from Hartville, Missouri

Derek Martin, a senior in mechanical engineering from Hermann, Missouri

Jason Martin, a senior in mechanical engineering from Rolla, Missouri

Alex Mills, a senior in petroleum engineering from Springfield, Missouri

Alec Mueller, a senior in mechanical engineering from Union, Missouri

Eric O’Shea, a senior in engineering management from St. Louis

Travis Parrigon, a freshman in mechanical engineering from Pierce City, Missouri

Charlie Phillips, a senior in electrical engineering from St. Charles, Missouri

Hans Pommerenke, a junior in ceramic engineering from Rolla, Missouri

Chance Proctor, a junior in electrical engineering from Mexico, Missouri

Nick Reuther, a senior in mechanical engineering from St. Charles, Missouri

Kyle Robertson, a sophomore in engineering from Edwardsville, Illinois

Paul Somers, a senior in physics from Springfield, Missouri

Seth Spinner, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Centralia, Illinois

Matthew Strubinger, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Auburn, Illinois

Emma Thompson, freshman in engineering management from Columbia, Missouri.