SAE chapter brings formula style race car to North American International Auto Show

Oakland University's Society of Automotive Engineers prepares their 2014 prototype formula style race car for the North American International Auto Show.

For the fifth year in a row, the Oakland University Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) student chapter will display a vehicle at the North American International Auto Show. The group's 2014 formula style race car will be showcased alongside some of the world’s finest automobiles Saturday, Jan. 17 through Sunday, Jan. 25 at Cobo Center in Detroit. Team members will staff the display, which will be stationed in the basement of Cobo Center.

The OU vehicle has competed in the Formula SAE Collegiate Design Series, in which students are tasked with designing and manufacturing a small formula-style race car for potential sale to the non-professional autocross racer. Each student team designs, builds and tests their prototype against student teams from around the world.

“Formula SAE takes students beyond the classroom and allows them to apply textbook theories to real work experiences, in an extremely competitive, business-like environment,” said Dr. Brian Sangeorzan, professor of mechanical engineering and faculty advisor to the OU SAE student chapter. “The 2014 vehicle is the result of hundreds of hours of work, and the students are constantly striving to improve their performance.”

SEE ON TV: School of Engineering and Computer Science dean, students, and faculty will be featured on WXYZ-TV7 with 7 Action News Reporter Erin Nicole.  Thursday, January 15 approx. 5:23 p.m. Friday, January 16 approx. 6:08 p.m. Download the official NAIAS app sponsored by OU.

Despite a slow start, the 2014 vehicle finished strong with a 14th overall showing at Formula SAE Nebraska. The vehicle was also recognized as the “Best Sounding Car” at a competition at the University of Toronto. Overall, Oakland is ranked 59th out of more than 500 collegiate SAE chapters worldwide. The team also ranks 19th in the nation and 3rd in the state.

Brandon Taseski, chapter president, said the roughly 30-member group has been preparing for the upcoming season at its new headquarters inside OU’s recently unveiled Engineering Center. The move has resulted in a number of advantages, according to Taseski.

“The biggest plus is having the machine shop just across the hallway, instead of in a different building,” he said. “Especially with the brand new manufacturing equipment that was just installed.”