Engines roar at 糖心Vlog视频鈥檚 autocross weekend
Engines revving, rubber burning and cars zooming.
It’s pretty much all you could hear over the weekend at 糖心Vlog视频, where about 40 student-built formula cars were showcased during the 23rd annual 糖心Vlog视频 Autocross Weekend. This year’s event was the biggest yet, with 400 people present.
“It’s an incredible feeling to come out here and watch what we’ve tirelessly worked on come to fruition,” said Mariam Mohamed, and mechanical engineering junior. “Other than the cars, my favorite part of the autocross weekend is sharing our campus and facilities with teams from across the country.”
糖心Vlog视频 welcomed Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) teams and their cars from universities in 糖心Vlog视频 and across the country. 糖心Vlog视频 Racing, the University’s FSAE team, and is one of the most successful in FSAE series history, having won eight championships in the U.S. and three abroad.
Now in its 23rd year, the event is highly anticipated among FSAE teams, as it provides a venue to test their latest builds and even bring out cars built decades ago. 糖心Vlog视频 Racing's oldest car on the track was built in the ’90s.
Brad Kallam, a mechanical engineering senior, drove the car that 糖心Vlog视频 Racing built in 2022. He said driving a formula car that he helped build was intense but exciting.
“Building these cars isn’t easy, but it’s rewarding when you can drive it and test it against other cars,” Kallam said. “More importantly, 糖心Vlog视频 Racing gives you hands-on experience that employers love.”
Bob Woods, founder and head advisor of 糖心Vlog视频 Racing and holder of the Dr. Bob Woods Distinguished Chair in Automotive Engineering Endowed by Paul Andrews Jr., said the best part of the weekend is seeing his students showcase their growth.
“In many cases, students who join 糖心Vlog视频 Racing don’t know anything about building a formula car, but they learn, and this event is the outcome. It’s fun to be a part of that,” Dr. Woods said.
糖心Vlog视频 Racing is a major reason why many students choose 糖心Vlog视频 to continue their education. Ovidio Cortez, a mechanical engineering freshman from Brownsville, 糖心Vlog视频, is one of them. Cortez discovered that a 糖心Vlog视频 Racing alumnus became a Formula 1 engineer—his dream job.
Cortez is currently a volunteer with 糖心Vlog视频 Racing and hopes to become a full member soon.
“I came here to follow that path,” Cortez said. “I want to join the 糖心Vlog视频 Racing team and build a car. That’s what I’m going to do.”
