For the past fourteen years, the University of Washington's Department of Mechanical Engineering has offered its students an exciting opportunity: the Formula SAE program. Each year, a team of approximately 30 students conceives, designs, and manufactures a formula-style race car. Once complete, the car is brought to Detroit, where it is judged by the world's best engineers and raced against competing cars from 140 schools around the world. The competition includes everything from a formal business proposal to a grueling endurance test in which only a fifth of the cars survive to the finish.
At the University of Washington, we have strived to create a professional business environment in which the Formula SAE students gain experience in design, documentation, machining, welding, assembly, and rigorous product testing, as well as accounting, budgeting and purchasing. After completing the program, students know what it takes to manage a project of this magnitude. The University of Washington's FSAE team is also one of the first teams to include students from majors other than Mechanical Engineering. Students come from Industrial, Material Science, Electrical, and Computer Engineering, and also Business. Participating in this interdisciplinary project helps students gain the valuable real world experience of working on a diverse team to achieve a common goal: winning first place in Detroit.
Every year, the car goes through an evolutionary process. After competition in Detroit, the previous year's car is critically evaluated so that the design can be improved for the next car. With the help of sponsors like you, the UW FSAE team was able to obtain a Motec engine management and data logging system. The data obtained from these systems allows us to design and tune a car that will exceed the performance capabilities of any previous UW FSAE car. This year the team is designing and testing dry sump, turbocharger, pneumatic shifting, and traction control systems that will be implemented on the new car with your help.
In order to build the car, the UW FSAE team must purchase raw materials and equipment. The project depends largely upon sponsorship from businesses and companies like you. Past monetary, product, and service contributions have paid for 75% of the team's total budget. Sponsorship that you provide represents a valuable investment in the education and experience of future engineers, perhaps even your future employees.
Your company's logo will be exhibited proudly on the body panels of the UW FSAE formula car, on display boards wherever the car is shown, on sponsor CDs and on the UW FSAE website. Your logo can also be displayed on the race uniforms of the drivers, pit crew, and on UW FSAE shirts available for sale to the general public. Exposure includes the Seattle International Auto Show, UW Engineering open houses, design fairs, and numerous PR events scheduled for increased publicity.
If you are interested in potential sponsorship opportunities and would like to receive more information, please contact:
Professor Ashley F. Emery Office Phone: (206) 543-5338 Fax: (206) 685-8047 Email:
If you would like to make a contribution to the University of Washington's Formula SAE team, please refer to the following:
All Checks Payable To
UW Formula SAE Car
Mailing Address
Professor Ashley F. Emery University of Washington Department of Mechanical Engineering Box 352600 Seattle, WA 98195-2600
