It’s a warm summer day in June. The humid Nebraskan air radiates off the pavement in waves as student teams make final adjustments to their racers before the competitions begin. Hopes are high as teams fend off anxiousness, letting excitement settle in its place and with no intentions of quitting. The Formula SAE races are the perfect chance to gain attention and support from sponsors.
Just like the vibe of the event that took place on June 19-22 in Lincoln, Neb. Each year San Diego State’s own Aztec Racing team builds a regulation car from scratch to compete in the races. It’s a grueling and time-consuming project, but worth every effort once the tires hit the track.
“It was very intense,” Mat Dulog, president of Aztec Racing said. “It was very interesting to see the team come together in a synchronized fashion, like they were a real pro race team.”
As synchronized as the team was, the event was far from problem-free. Bad weather and technical issues emerged prior to race time, but it was able to overcome those challenges and succeed.
“We had to replace our fuel system during competition in the rain,” said Dulog.
He described the team’s efforts to fix the problem while working in the weather conditions, all while pushing to meet a tight deadline set by the event coordinators. In the end, hard work and dedication prevailed, and Aztec Racing’s vehicle was ready and raring to go.
The team’s successes were no small feat.
“We were able to compete in every single event for the first time ever for the history of the school,” Aztec Racing Vice President Simon Weber said. “We beat some of the top teams (in some competitions).”
Unlike traditional NASCAR races, the Formula SAE races are not head-to-head. Instead, teams compete independently within several categories and are given a final score based on performance. Out of 61 total participating teams, Aztec Racing came in at 49. Dulog and Weber consider this a great improvement and a step in the right direction for future competitions.
The races are intended to challenge students’ acquired skills. Each team must build a formula-style competition vehicle while adhering to a strict budget. (The tight budget is given to teams so they can market the car to a fictitious nonprofessional competitor.)
Each race is designed to test a specific technical aspect of the vehicle. From brakes to acceleration and everything in between, points are awarded based on the efficiency of the vehicle’s handling. Aesthetics are also judged, and elements such as presentation and cost are tallied into the final score.
It may seem like quite a bit of work, but the members of Aztec Racing live for the challenge. In the eight to 12 months it takes to build the car, the hands-on experience from planning to construction is a lesson learned that will serve well into the future.
“It’s also a good networking opportunity to one, get a job … but also to meet and collaborate with other schools,” Dulog said.
The competitions are just one way Aztec Racing encourages its members to make the most out of their time on campus. There are plenty of opportunities for students of all majors to strengthen their social bonds and resumes, simply by participating in something they may already enjoy. While most members are engineering majors, Dulog emphasized there is a job for all backgrounds, such as marketing and finance.
The team is always looking for ways to improve and reach new goals for the next race. Dulog and Weber have high hopes for next year’s competition, and are confident the team will improve.
”This year our goal was just to compete in everything,” Weber said. “Next year we actually want to finish everything, which will help us get a better overall score.”
With the triumph of this year’s races behind them and the start of a fresh semester on the horizon, Aztec Racing has a bright outlook. Nothing nurtures camaraderie like coming together with a common goal, and the team is already on the right track to success.
