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Students compete in international racing event

May 28, 2009

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University's student Formula Racing Team recently completed the 2009 Formula SAE Michigan competition at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.

The team of 18 WMU students placed 42 overall out of 91 teams that competed May 13 to 16. It was the first time in recent years that the team was able to complete all of the event's challenges including technical inspection, cost, presentation, engineering design, solo performance and high performance track endurance where each team has to complete 20 laps in the least amount of time.

Organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers International, the concept of the Formula SAE competition is to challenge colleges and universities around the world to design and build a small-scale formula style racing car.

The WMU team in 2008 was not able to finish the endurance test of the event, but it was the first year the University qualified for all portions of the competition. The team entered but was not able to compete in all events in 2006 and 2003.

WMU Formula Racing Team

  • Sara Arendell, of Shelby Township, Mich., is a graduating senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Eric Brinley, of Kalamazoo, is a graduating senior in industrial design.
  • Brian Doorlag, of Plainwell, Mich., is a graduating senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Sarah Gerbig, of Grand Blanc, Mich., is a senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Christopher Hartman, of DeWitt, Mich., is a junior in mechanical engineering.
  • Dirk Hayford, of Dowagiac, Mich., is a sophomore in mechanical engineering.
  • Ryan Koch, of Plainwell, Mich., is a senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Vivek Kumar, of Ann Arbor, Mich., is a graduating senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Jeremiah McClintock, of Commerce Township, Mich., is a senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Michael Nienhuis, of Byron, Mich., is a senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Ernesto Matos Ojeda, of Venezuela, is a sophomore in mechanical engineering.
  • Ryan Pringle, of Clinton Township, Mich., is a graduating senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Brian Silovich, of Fox Lake, Ill., is a junior in mechanical engineering.
  • Derrick Charlie Spitzley, of DeWitt, Mich., is a sophomore in engineering graphics.
  • Jeff Terry, of Brookfield, Wisc., is a senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Jenn Thompson, of Lake Orion, Mich., is a senior in chemistry and physics.
  • Nathan Urban, of Brighton, Mich., is a graduating senior in mechanical engineering.
  • Geoffrey VanGemert, of Vicksburg, Mich., is a senior in mechanical engineering.

Contact

For more information, contact Dr. Claudia Fajardo at claudia.fajardo@wmich.edu or (269) 276-3434.

Media contact: Deanne Molinari, (269) 387-8400, deanne.molinari@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/news