LEBANON, Ore. – Oregon State University’s award-winning Baja and Formula racing cars will be on display Sept. 15 at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon. Students will be on hand to talk to race lovers about the teams’ recent successes and adventures, and to inspire Lebanon students to consider pursuing a degree in engineering.
OSU, LBCC and Lebanon High School have recently formed a partnership to help Lebanon students succeed in college. The program allows students to earn transferable college credit while still enrolled in high school. Each year, OSU will provide 10 scholarships of $3,000 to any Lebanon High School student who demonstrates financial need and earns their high school diploma and associate’s degree in this program.
The Formula SAE car, built by the OSU Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), recently won for the third consecutive year at Michigan International Speedway, considered the national championship of Formula SAE racing – the only time this has ever happened. OSU’s team, composed mostly of students from the College of Engineering, has been extraordinarily successful in Formula SAE racing in recent years. This sport is extremely popular in Europe, where almost every university sponsors a team, and OSU has also dominated many universities with strong teams in the Midwest, the historic home of the nation’s automotive industry.
Cars in Formula SAE racing are judged on such factors as cost, innovation, acceleration, design and other aspects. Students spend thousands of hours working on the vehicles and in the process learn skills in aerodynamics, chassis construction and mechanical engineering as well as business development and fund raising.
Formula SAE racing is organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers.
The OSU Baja SAE car team has won several major international competitions.
On Sept. 15, the Speedway will be featuring Dirt Car Super Late Models, USRA Modifieds, Sportsman, Classics and Mini Trucks. Time trials start at 2:30 and racing begins at 6 p.m. For more information: http://trophymotorsports.com/willamettespeedway.htm
