FSAE VIR: Tilt table

One of the more unique opportunities I've had at MU is to participate in Formula SAE, a design competition series organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Teams of students design and build small autocross cars (up to 650 cc) and bring them to any of the series' competitions worldwide.

During each competition's technical inspection, a team's car is tilted 45 degrees toward the side with the refueling opening; it can't leak even a drop of any fluids. It's then tilted further — 60 degrees — and can't roll over at all. At this competition at Virginia International Raceway, we were the first team to get on the tilt table. The fact that it still had to be assembled — in front of us, no less — and the fact that it was senior Josh Felling's first time on a tilt table made it pretty interesting to watch.

I like the various emotions in this photo and the really odd perspective given by the trees growing in an unusual direction.