The sounds of screeching tires and racing engines and the smell of gasoline fill the air as cars battle furiously for position on the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The teams that work on these cars are made up of engineering students from six universities here in the heart of stock car racing country. They are members of a new group called NCAR, for National Collegiate Association for Racing. Engineering skills are key Watch the entire report as seen on CNN 2 min. Small changes like tightening a spring slightly or adding just a touch of air to the tires can make the difference between winning and losing.
Setup is key.
Their requisite racing machine is not just any old automobile. Students use Legends cars, five-eighths scale models of cars from the 1930s and '40s, powered with motorcycle engines. The cars are built to give amateur racers a level playing field, and the students aren't allowed to make major changes to the engine or chassis. Part of setting up the car is adapting it to each driver's preferences. Drivers and crews exchange constant feedback.