Safety and reliability
Building a safe car
Driving practice in the shifter cart
- Designed from beginning in accordance with all Formula SAE safety rules.
- Lower frame tubing built from 1" square stock. Finite element analysis indicates this provides greater protection than standard round tubing.
- Purchased 125 cc class "shifter cart" to practice driving. All drivers need to be familiar with the performance and handling characteristics of small race vehicles to drive them safely
- Special foam and fiberglass composite nozecone provides "crumple zone" for front-impact protection.
Building a reliable car
- Serviceability emphasized in design. Features includes removable engine mounting, high-mounted shocks, removable aerodynamic fairings, and prefitting of parts to a PVC mock-up.
- Time for testing built into the construction schedule. Thorough testing will help to identify and eliminate potential flaws in the design.
- Professional assistance enlisted whenever possible. This includes design advice, machining of parts, and frame welding.