UOIT students take rookie team title at automotive engineering motorsports event

OSHAWA, ON. - Demonstrating once again that University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) students are among the best and brightest in Canada, the Durmach UOIT Motorsports Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) team recently raced its way to Rookie of the Year honours at its first-ever Formula SAE event, held at the California Speedway.

Competing against university teams from across Canada, the U.S., China, Spain, Venezuela, India, Japan and other countries, the UOIT team scored well enough with its open-wheel 610cc Suzuki-powered race car, to record the best finish by a first-year team at the 2007 Formula SAE West event. UOIT's 33rd-place finish overall, out of 80 registered teams, was second among the nine Canadian entries, just behind the University of Western Ontario in 32nd place.

Over the course of the event, which ran from Wednesday, June 13 to Saturday, June 16 in Fontana, California, UOIT team members Cameron Mackey, Sean Hopman, Dan Jung, Matt Newcombe, and Shane Viccary competed in a skid pad test, acceleration and endurance runs and an autocross event. The Mechanical Engineering students were also required to make a presentation on how practical their entry was for competing in the event, the possible daily assembly of three or four similar models at a production facility and then the marketing of those mass-produced vehicles for commercial sale.

"We are extremely proud of our results in California, including being named the Formula SAE West Rookie Team of the Year," said Mackey, whose role with the team included chassis and aerodynamic work. "This is truly rewarding because our overall team is made up of more than 30 members, representing all of UOIT's faculties, and together we contributed thousands of hours of work over the last two years. Everyone on the SAE team contributed to our outstanding results and we're proud to have helped raise the profile of UOIT on an international stage."

Excellent design, maintenance and driving were keys to the UOIT team's success, with each member of the group handling driving duties during different events. Team members have been working on the car over the past two years, with lead sponsor Durmach, a tool, die, jig and fixtures company, providing space and expertise to the students at its Bowmanville location. In addition, a number of UOIT professors provided valuable guidance and assistance with questions about design software, calculations and other issues.

Thanks to UOIT's high-tech environment, the students were able to utilize their laptops during the design phase to collaborate on design ideas and modifications - often working late into the night. All UOIT students use a high-end Lenovo ThinkPad laptop loaded with software specific to their programs and in use by industry. The UOIT car was designed using SolidWorks, a 3-D computer-aided design software program, with a few components designed using Unigraphics. Access to these types of software provides all UOIT students with hands-on experiences that put them one step ahead upon graduation.

Prior to leaving for California, the team spent about eight hours testing the car, including spending time at Shannonville Motorsport Park and in the UOIT parking lot.

"Everyone at UOIT is tremendously proud of all the members of UOIT's Formula SAE team," said Rene Tinawi, acting dean of the UOIT Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. "The team members combined their classroom and lab experiences, assistance from professors and community partners and a deep commitment to success together to achieve these outstanding results. Coupled with other recent design awards by UOIT Engineering students, this reinforces that UOIT students are among the best and the brightest not only here in Canada, but across the globe."

As the Formula SAE West Rookie Team of the Year, the team received Bill Mitchell Software for suspension and vehicle dynamics design, along with the full line of Carroll Smith books which are used extensively by SAE teams.

A number of other sponsors played key roles in helping defer the cost for the UOIT team's trip to California, including the Mackie Group, which transported the car to California free of charge. UOIT also sponsored the team, as did SAE, Don Butt Auto Body Inc., Mobile 1, getwrapped.ca, CRC Mfg., Hindle, Tuff Control Systems Limited and Dell Will Customs Brokers Inc.

Next up for the team is entry in the University of Toronto shootout on Saturday, September 15 at Mosport International Speedway, located just north of Bowmanville.

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About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT's 4,300 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, the university offers more than 30 challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Sciences. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

About Ontario Tech University
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Media contact
Allison Rosnak
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2513
allison.rosnak@uoit.ca