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 The Team
The team has completed the chassis design and sent it in to VR3 engineering. We received a quote of $8,000 for the chassis. Our suspension design has also been completed. The total cost for the suspension is expected to be around $10,000. The aero package has been designed and is currently in the manufacturing process. We are currently finalizing the design of many other parts of the car including the shifter, pedal box, exhaust, and cooling system. As the design phase of our project 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 things, it has been difficult to secure monetary sponsorships and secure the required funds to complete our car. Our team is scheduled to compete for the first time at FSAE Detroit in the spring of 2025, and we need to raise as much as we can!
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
