"BJohnson11" (brettjohnson01)
03/10/2014 at 01:17 • Filed to: None
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"BJohnson11" (brettjohnson01)
03/10/2014 at 01:17 • Filed to: None | 7
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I didn't get too much time in the car, and this video was taken on only my first couple laps, so I didn't "have my balls yet". That said, the car is an absolute blast to drive, and given a better place to push it (read; not a gravely parking lot on campus), it'll be quick. I look forward to more driving in the future.
The WB
> BJohnson11
03/10/2014 at 01:29 |
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Soak it up, you will never get a chance to drive a car like that again, unless you make the mistake of buying the previous years car and trying to maintain it...
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BJohnson11
> The WB
03/10/2014 at 01:31 |
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Haha that's exactly what my buddy who graduated last year did. Bought the old tube frame car and is converting it back to carbureted.
That said, I still probably have a couple years left at school (not saying they'll all be on the team), but I'll be sure to make the most of my seat time.
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The WB
> BJohnson11
03/10/2014 at 01:33 |
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Carburetors? Nooooo!
FSAE is why my '67 Mustang has EFI on it.
But yeah, several guys have bought previous years cars, all of them have driven them just about none. Then sold them to another school for practice cars / mules.
jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
> The WB
03/10/2014 at 01:43 |
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That would be awesome if my school would ever let anyone buy the car. They always become learning tools / parts shops for the next years teams... We did our best to not scavenge the previous years' car... but it happened. And now our car if just a (beautiful) frame anymore. :\
Do you have any idea what the cars end up selling for? The full cost would be a little out of reach, but I suppose that a fraction of that still amounts to something to help the team...
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The WB
> jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
03/10/2014 at 03:09 |
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Well, we had 5 running cars at that point, so we needed to reduce to preserve shop space. We didn't have the ability like UTA does to keep a million of their cars running.
I want to say that they probably "donated" 5k or so, and the car disappeared.
You can't price these things on cost, because all the parts are bespoke and just to maintain one you have to have a CNC machine shop. That said, the guys who bought them had all the CAD files, and if necessary, could have a shop make uprights or hubs or whatnot if needed. Still, the cost for a broken corner would be pretty ridiculous.
Jonnywaffles
> BJohnson11
03/10/2014 at 03:12 |
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Our car is still a tube frame with all of the major systems still being drawn up on solid works.....thanks for making us feel even more behind haha.
WhiskeyGolf
> BJohnson11
03/10/2014 at 11:57 |
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Is that the car you've been working on for this year? Mad props for having it in motion before April (with aero!)
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BJohnson11
> WhiskeyGolf
03/10/2014 at 21:04 |
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Yes and no. Yes, it's the car we're going to comp with, and yes its the one we've been working on this year, but the chassis (well, most of it—we got a new engine and had to rebuild the rear subframe around it) is last years. We went to Lincoln last year, so we can't go back there, so we're headed to Detroit. That said, the aero, drivetrain, and all the engine stuff is pretty much brand new. Driver controls changed a bit. So really on the chassis and suspension stayed the same.
So yes, we worked our asses off to get the car built, but we had a decent head start as well.
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jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
> The WB
03/11/2014 at 01:13 |
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If you had a "Made in China" CNC machine (which I hear can be had for about $20k), then it wouldn't be quite as bad. But I agree, the maintenance that they require is the killer. You would have to maintain some connections to keep things around, like someone who works at a waterjet to keep a supply of brake rotors.
I still want one to keep, though.
Saloon_Hoon
> BJohnson11
03/19/2014 at 14:26 |
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I got a chance to drive my college's FSAE car during some tests (most fun on four wheels ever) - and that got me to keep an eye out for a spare motorcycle drivetrain... which I acquired... now I'd really like to make a reverse trike (a-la T-Rex) or road legal go-kart. - anyone think that an FSAE style car can be made road legal?
Though I'm in California, I know as long as you follow the road rules book for kit-cars, it might be possible.. any thoughts?