Laker Racing team hosts peers from Brazil, competes at MIS

June 13, 2023 (Volume 46, Number 18)
Article by Michele Coffill

a crowd gathers around an open-wheel race car at the Michigan International Speedway; crew members for Laker Racing are wearing blue shirts

four rows of people stand and kneel on the Blue Bridge in Grand Rapids, behind an art installation of colorful animals and in front of the JW Marriott

The Laker Racing Formula SAE team had international experience even before bringing their car to the Michigan International Speedway for the 120-team competition in May.

The collegiate engineering design competition is hosted annually by the Society of Automotive Engineers. In addition to building and refining an open-wheel race car, business and engineering students collaborate on design and marketing presentations.

Nicholas Baine, associate professor of electrical engineering and the team's faculty advisor, said the Laker Racing team hosted 22 students and faculty members from a university in Brazil that regularly competes at MIS.

Baine said faculty from the Brazilian team, from Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais, reached out via an SAE forum to look for help with a staging area before bringing their car to MIS.

"One of our students saw their message and asked if we could help," Baine said.

Turns out the Brazilian team needed lots of help. Their car was held up by U.S. Customs in Miami for several days before making its slow trek to Michigan.

"Their car arrived at MIS on Day 2 of the competition," Baine said. "Because of the late arrival, their team had to pack two days’ worth of competition activities into one day."

Before leaving for the Brooklyn speedway, Baine said the teams from GVSU and Brazil practiced their marketing, cost analysis, and design presentations together, while sharing food, fellowship and ideas.

The Laker team finished the competition in the middle of the pack, Baine said, adding they were hampered by problems with the car's starter during the endurance test.

Next year will mark the 10th year Laker Racing has competed in Formula SAE. The student organization is run like a nonprofit organization, Baine said. Students connect with businesses for sponsorships and create business plans to promote the car.

Baine said Laker Racing team members learn about collaboration, problem solving and project management in addition to applying their engineering or business skills.

"I've seen engineering students persist because of this team," Baine said. "Students may be asked to join and say no because they don't have the time because of their classes. Then the team will descend on that person to help and provide opportunities to turn a request for assistance into a mutually beneficial relationship."