This summer, Mississippi State University will send a team to Michigan to take part in the Formula SAE Series.  It is a competition hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers. In the Formula SAE Series, students design and build open-wheeled Indy-style race cars from the ground up. 
SAE hosts a variety of other competitions, such as Baja, Clean Snowmobile, Aero and Supermileage, each with their own unique objectives.  While MSU has participated in the Baja Series in the past, they have opted for the Formula Series since 2006.
Dash Robinson and Brandon Powell, both senior mechanical engineering majors, are co-leaders of the team. 
Robinson said their team chose the Formula Series for one reason. 
“Speed. It’s the fastest,” he said.
Formula SAE cars are fully functioning race cars.  Robinson said they accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds and can be dangerous if teams are not careful.
“There are a lot of safety regulations,” he said.
Robinson said the series involves more than mere fabrication of a car; it encompasses the entire production process from design to manufacturing to testing. 
All-inclusive problem-solving is the overarching purpose of the Collegiate Design Series. It places students in a practical manufacturing situation, where theory must balance with real-life restrictions. 
The competition is sponsored in large part by the Big Three auto manufacturers, Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. Powell said these corporations hope to inspire excellence in aspiring engineers and students get the chance to build relationships with potential employers.
In fact, Powell said some automotive companies will not consider hiring engineers who do not have SAE experience. 
He also explained learning to work well with a group was just as valuable as the technical experience gained. 
“As much as anything else, you learn to operate as a team,” he said.
Robinson said success depends largely on the management of time, making teamwork crucial.
“We divide tasks as much as possible,” he said. “It’s most efficient that way.”
The team faces many nontechnical challenges in the process of producing a high-performance race car on a deadline and a limited budget.  They build a rapport with companies and private donors who can make contributions. 
Powell said the competition requires each team to make a business presentation and furnish a cost report. 
“There is definitely a business side to it,” Powell said.
In addition to corporate sponsors and private donors, the Formula SAE team receives financial support from the Mechanical Engineering Department. 
The MSU Formula SAE team competes May 9 through12 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.
Powell said they will face approximately 120 teams from around the world.
“It’s kind of like our Super Bowl,” he said.
Currently, the team consists entirely of engineering and technical majors. However, they are always looking for new members of any major. 
The team meets on Thursdays at 5 p.m. in Patterson 201-S. Its website is sae.org.msstate.edu.