Engineering Ingenuity and Lightweight Design
Inside the student design center in the College of Engineering and Polymer Science, members of UA’s SAE International student-design team have been working tirelessly to prepare ZR22, aka “Silvia” for her next showing — a European tour that will have her being the only American combustion car zooming and whooshing around racetracks against other collegiate Formula race teams in Austria, Hungary and Germany during July and August.
The team, including Silvia, recently finished 12th overall out of 120 teams at the Formula SAE Michigan competition, an event the team participates in annually with other universities across the nation. But now, attention is on Europe, where Zips Racing will be competing against similar teams that are from the mecca of engineering ingenuity in Europe.
To take this on, it comes down to design. One crucial aspect of Zips Racing’s design philosophy is to make the car as lightweight as possible, utilizing carbon fiber for the body. (Additionally, finding the right driver with the optimal weight plays a crucial role in the strategy.)
Driving Innovation: ZR22 utilizes carbon fiber in its design for lightweight performance and agility.
"For these European competitions, we know we need to step up our game," said team captain Ray Hilbert, who graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. "We designed this car with a focus on the competitions in Europe, where racetracks are tighter, so we need improved handling. We have to make the car as light as possible, which is different from traditional Formula designs in America with larger motors and heavier cars."
And it’s more than vehicle engineering. Just to be able to compete in the European competitions, the team members spent long hours preparing for rigorous written and timed exams to qualify.
Meet some members of the Zips Racing Team: (Left to Right) Grant Abraham, Andrew Raineri, Ray Hilbert (in car), Harrison Criss, Luke Greer, Dominic Paolillo, Ivan Wasielewski and Gianna Buzzelli, in the Margaret F. Donovan Student Design Center.
Aerodynamic Enhancements and New Leadership
Silvia was designed specifically for the European tracks, known for their tighter and more challenging designs. This year, the team incorporated new aerodynamic features into the car's design. For example, a drag reduction system with adjustable wings allowed the driver to open and close the wings, which is autonomously controlled based off throttle inputs.
The car will be sporting the numbers 98, 130, and 330 and is adorned in UA’s iconic blue and gold, features 13-inch Goodyear Eagle race tires. While the car's top speed reached 75 miles per hour, it typically raced around 35 miles per hour during competitions. The names of the car's sponsors are prominently displayed, recognizing their invaluable support.
As the members put on the finishing touches for what’s ahead, the competitions mark a transition as Hilbert’s last season with the team and new leadership through Gianna Buzzelli, a fifth-year mechanical engineering technology major from Pittsburgh.
"For me, success in the European competitions would mean the team learning and gaining valuable skills," Buzzelli said. "I want us to learn how to better approach setbacks, because the biggest part of success is learning and the attitude you have toward it."
Fostering Professional Connections, Personal Growth, and Engineering Careers
Afterall, the students pour their energy and time into creating a race car from the ground up, crafting 80% of the car's parts themselves. In addition to their technical skills, the students also must raise funds for the organization while relying on support from the College and donations from foundations and local sponsors to support their endeavors.
Professional connections is one of the many benefits for students who join Zips Racing, especially with the team’s sponsors like Goodyear Racing, Cleveland Cliffs, Summit Racing, Bridgestone, Schaeffler Group and Collins Aerospace, among many others.
Accelerating Success: The invaluable support of team sponsors propels Zips Racing to new heights on and off the track.
"Employers have reached out to us asking for potential job candidates from Zips Racing," said Hilbert. "Having that design team experience is so crucial to having a successful engineering career."
Plus, it gives students a place where their passions can meet possibilities, like it did for Hilbert.
"My dad saw an article in the newspaper about Zips Racing when I was in high school, so we checked it out," said Hilbert. "Lots of team members have chosen UA because of Zips Racing."
And for Buzzelli, that passion is helping the world.
"I always knew I would gravitate toward engineering, and I’ve always wanted to change the world," said Buzzelli. "I like the learning experience and helping people as a leader, and I’m getting that opportunity through Zips Racing. I care more about the members than the car. I'm excited for this team and to help it grow."
Story by Alex Knisely. Photography by Jason Miller.
Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.
