A car called Foops, designed and built by Virginia Tech engineering undergraduates, outraced competitors from 59 other universities and won the 1991 Formula SAE car competition in Detroit recently. The competitions were all designed to give engineering students a chance to apply what they learned in class, said mechanical engineering department head Bob Comparin. Participating students included business, computer science, and electrical, mechanical, and aerospace engineering majors. Students had to assume that they were producing a prototype car for possible production by a car manufacturer. In addition to high performance acceleration, braking, and handling, the car had to be low in cost, easy to maintain, and reliable.
Engineers have to be able to operate what they've designed and built.
Like their SAE counterparts, the Mini-Baja East competitors also had to assume that they were making a prototype for possible manufacture. The gasoline-burning 8 horsepower vehicle had to be able to handle rough terrain and deep water without damage, and be safe, fun to drive, and easily maintained. It would be judged for its design, safety, cost, and performance in a series of field events. Placing second overall, the car was among the top contenders in almost all the events against 35 other schools, Moses added. Tech's entry, named Solaray, was a rebuilt version of the vehicle that participated in the 1990 GM Sunrayce USA, a race from Florida to Michigan.