Who Are We?
We are Minutemen Racing, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst Chapter of Formula SAE. Founded in the Spring of 2019, the club has gained popularity in the UMass Engineering Community, amassing over forty members. Formula SAE is an international competition where institutions from all over the world gather to compete with their formula-style racing cars in multiple events that test structural integrity and vehicle performance. The competition is scored in static and dynamic events that test the build, acceleration ability, fuel economy, endurance, and a multitude of others that add up to a point total of 1000. The team with the highest point total at the end of the multi-day event has crowned the champion. Students are responsible for raising the money necessary to not only build the car but to afford the traveling expenses necessary to arrive at the competition and stay for multiple-day events.
Current State of Team
The team is currently in the process of designing individual sub-components for the car, including the chassis, power train, suspension, and electronic systems. As the design phase comes to a close, the team is faced with the daunting task of raising the funds to begin the building phase. With the current state of the economy, it has been more difficult than ever to continue sponsorship with companies and secure funds for upcoming semesters. We will be competing in the spring of 2024, and we have started to construct parts for the car.
Along with corporate sponsors, we rely on the individual donations of those interested in the project and in helping the future of UMass Engineering. This team provides students with hands-on experience in the design and building phases of an automobile. It also gives students the experience needed to work productively in a team-based environment, learning collaborative skills not provided in the classroom. Formula SAE is a phenomenal experience for currently enrolled undergraduates, but also incoming classes, who will be looking for an alternative learning platform to their normal courses.
Thank you.
Your donations mean the world to us and we are so grateful for your continued support. These gifts will impact the experience of undergraduates for years to come. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Minutemen Racing