Formula SAE Pitt Shootout

[jmccrory]

Many here are familiar with the Formula SAE competitions.
Beyond the 2 formal competitions held in Michigan, there are a number of informal competitions that fit the term "friendlies"
One of the most established is the Pitt Shoot Out.
This year it will be held August 1 and 2 2025 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
There should be about 40 teams competing.
Over the course of the 2 days, the teams get:
2 days of dynamics: Acceleration, Skidpad, Autocross
Note that these are held a special FSAE track, not the full circuit.
Unlimited runs on all dynamic events
Unlimited drivers on all dynamic events
Educational Seminars
The event is track centric, and the track time is significantly more than at the formal competitions.
See https://www.pittsburghshootout.com/

Why this post?
This is an opportunity to see some really bright young people who in a few years will be working in industry and motorsports.
The competitors would welcome the opportunity to interact with experienced racers.
Its a great chance to mentor.
The competition can always use volunteers. See https://www.pittsburghshootout.com/volunteer
And watching these cars run is a blast.

[DanW]

The Socal chapter of the SAE piloted a project in 1969 and gifted three clapped out Yellow Cab Ford Galaxie taxis to Cal Poly Pomona. At the same time, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo were also gifted two cabs.

I worked on the car at Pomona in 1971. https://www.race-dezert.com/forum/th...photos.132518/

C Raggi worked on the SLO entry. https://magazine.calpoly.edu/spring-2022/baja-blast/

[EYERACE]

Years ago my Daughter here in Florida won an online competition to design the new logo for Univ. of Western Michigan. She won some sweats and T-shirts and other clothing pieces for the winning prize. Clever people at U of WM....that way they didn't have to pay a Professional graphics designer big bucks to do it. A year later, in SCCA's SportsCar (you remember....it was called the 20th Century back when that was published)..... I see the coverage and pictures of the SCCA Auto-X National Championships......and of all the many SAE cars they could have had a pic of.....there it was.....my Daughter's design on the side of the Western Michigan SAE car in SportsCar. I'm still beaming !!

In Orlando, I became familiar with the Univ. of Florida SAE car when it came out to the Martin Sports Car Club Auto-X events. So when my Son (who had an SCCA Novice Permit (via my VD or Crossle) attended the U of F, I made a point of it to introduce him to the U of F SAE program. I also sponsored the car and bought them tires. He probably had even more fun though as part of the SAE BAJA team car. The years he was there, the SAE team was in the top 10 in the world three years in a row.....out of something like 125 Colleges from all over the world. Go Gators! I have also sponsored the Univ. of Central Floria SAE team too,....go UCF Knights!

[Mschumi101]

Formula SAE alumni myself from University of Wisconsin! Some of the cars are incredible pieces of engineering, definitely worth checking out if you're in the area! Think full carbon monocoques, advanced suspensions, custom engine controls, or if its an electric car, custom motors and controllers, full aero packages that allow the cars to corner at up to 3G. They are a ton of fun to drive, definitely helped me learn a lot about racing and motorsports engineering.

[Ron B.]

Was a member of the U of Minnesota FSAE program on the 1997-2001 cars. Still have life-long friends. Invaluable teamwork, project management and engineering experience. Your GPA may suffer, but you will not regret it.

Go check it out - marvel at the cars and congratulate the students.

Ron