The Laker Racing team competes on the track of Michigan International Speedway.
Photo Credit:
courtesy photo
The Laker Racing team poses with member of the Centro Federal de
Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais team from Brazil on the Blue
Bridge in Grand Rapids.
Photo Credit:
courtesy photo
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."
Opportunities to participate in Juneteenth, Pride Month and the Black Boys and Men Symposium strengthen our commitment to an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere through our active efforts to create a sense of belonging.