The Cars

About

We have completed our seventh car, FK07! Aiming to continue our streak of one-year build cycles, we wrapped up design in the fall of 2024 and had the car ready to test in April 2024. We then took the car to Michigan to test our luck in the FSAE IC competition against 113 other teams from around the world.

Our main design change for this year was the full aero package, the first that the team has ever seen. Our Aerodynamics subsystem put in hundreds of hours of work into the design, analysis, and manufacture of the wings, and they successfully held up and improved our vehicle's handling and performance. One of our goals for this year was to improve the reliability of our car as we suffered numerous mechanical failures in previous years and we were successful on that front, not having to do any major repairs at comp. Some electrical woes did hinder our performance and unfortunately we were not able to improve on our performance from previous years. Though the car and team shows great promise for future endeavors and we hope to bring the best car we have ever made to comp next year!

FK07 Leadership
Team Captain: Peter Szalay
Engineering Manager: Catie Vaughn
Chief Engineer: Alex Kogos

Results

Competing in May 2025, the team brought FK07 up to Michigan to put it to the test. While initial testing showed promise, some woes in late testing and into competition proved too much for us to fix in the time we had left so FK07 was not able to perform as well as we hoped. In the end, FK07 scored 269.3 points putting us in 67th place overall. 

Cost: 55 pts

Presentation: 19.6 pts

Design: 60 pts

Acceleration: 46.3 pts

Skidpad: 35.4

Autocross: 51.9 pts

Endurance: 1

Efficiency: ---

Total: 371.1 points!

About

FK06 is the team's newest car set to be up and operational in March of 2024! FK06 intends to back up the performance of 05 with improvements in many portions of the car regarding cooling, heat extraction, electrical systems, and aerodynamics. We have made some great strides in design and are looking to focus on cooling performance for the powertrain system and increased reliability. 

Specifications

• Engine: 2008 CBR600RR
  • 81 hp @ 9000rpm
• ECU: Haltech Nexus R3
• Tires: Hoosier LC0
• Weight: N/A

FK06 Leadership
Team Captain: Jude Ward
Engineering Manager: Ashely Vanover

Results

Competing in May 2024, the team brought FK06 out to preform, and perform it did. FK06 is the second car in team history to finish the rigorous endurance test! Taking a look at the point totals below, FK06 managed to score 371.1 points total! The points breakdown is as follows:

• Cost: 68.2 pts
• Presentation: 51.8 pts
• Design: 75 pts
• Acceleration: 79.2 pts
• Autocross: 29.7 pts
• Endurance: 42.2
• Efficiency: ---

Total: 371.1 points!

About

FK05 was the follow-up to 04; a one-year build as compared to the previous almost 3-year build (all be it due to COVID) that was assembled in almost record time that left months worth of testing time in our hands. FK05 has proven to be a stout machine with almost 60+ miles of testing before seeing competition at MIS in 2023! FK05 has excelled in making us streamline our process for manufacturability and has set up a guide for all future cars' manufacturing.

Specifications

• Engine: 2008 CBR600RR
  • 81 hp @ 9000rpm
• ECU: Haltech Elite 1500
• Tires: Hoosier R25B's
• Weight: ~500lb (wet)

FK05 Leadership
Team Captain: Adam Reynolds
Chief Engineer: John Psyck
Engineering Manager: Ashely Vanover

Results

FK05 competed in competition at FSAE Michigan 2023 placing 53rd out of 114 teams.

FK05 scored 82.8 points in cost, 57 points in presentation, 60 points in design, 64.6 in the acceleration test, 21.7 on the skid pad, 78.8 in Autocross, and 6 in Endurance.05 failed endurance due to a problem with the front brake system where the calipers got so hot that they stuck the brake pad to the rotor. Yet, FK05 has provided so much confidence and knowledge for our team that we are excited for our next car to come, FK06!

About

This car presented unique challenges as the COVID-19 Pandemic took over. Fighting through restrictions and virtual meetings we persevered, but had to push our cycle back a whole year to make up for the lost time. Built through Spring 2022, FK04 has a design focused on reliability and manufacturability,  as well as to be an "iteration zero" for future development. FK04 is also our first car designed around our in-house lap simulation software. Which based on previous competition tracks, has allowed us to determine what project changes to make to maximize our points scored. FK04 features:

Specifications

• Brakes: Wilwood PS1 Calipers
• Electronics: Haltech Standalone ECU
• Engine: Honda CBR600RR
• Weight: 495 lb

FK04 Leadership
Team Captain: Audrey Jezek

Results

FK04 competed at the 2022 FSAE Michigan May Competition, finishing in the 41st percentile.

FK04 finished 33rd in Skidpad, 35th in Autocross, and 47th in Acceleration. While we didn't finish endurance, FK04's Design score was a 10-point improvement over FK03, and the team placed 3rd overall in both the Presentation and Cost Events! Because we smashed our team's previous records in so many of the events, we ended up with a final total score of 383.4. Which is over an 80-point improvement from 2019 and the highest we’ve ever scored. This car has provided so much experience and knowledge to build on for the future, and our team is better for it. 

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About

FK03 represents a significant change to our approach to racecar engineering. We focused on improving the existing track-proven designs from the last cars and getting in as much testing as possible to prove the car’s reliability and train drivers. FK03 is our fastest and most polished car, with a carbon fiber body designed and manufactured in-house, as well as improved driver ergonomics in the form of removable foam seat inserts based on the specific driver. 

Specifications

• Brakes: Wilwood GP200 Calipers
• Electronics: Haltech Standalone ECU
• Engine: Honda CBR600RR
• Weight: 524 lbs

FK03 Leadership

Team Captain: John Dillon

FK03.5 Leadership

Team Captain: Luke Ramey

Results

FK03 competed at the 2018 FSAE Lincoln May Competition, finishing in the 68th percentile. At Lincoln, we made it through tech and completed every event but acceleration and skid pad. Despite not completing two events, we still managed to score 283.4 total points. Which was over 60 points higher than the last car and a team record. 

FK03 competed again at the 2019 FSAE Michigan May Competition under the name FK03.5, finishing in the 62nd percentile. The MI2019 results are special to us because we bested our prior competition scores in the Cost, Presentation, Design, Acceleration & Skidpad events as well as scored our highest overall score of 301.6 points. 

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About

FK02 followed much of the same design philosophy as FK01, however, we made multiple refinements.  These refinements included upgrades to the engine management system, ergonomics, and suspension. The team put a heavy focus on using data acquisition and simulation to drive design choices.  FK02 also incorporated a vehicle sensor package, as well as the Haltech Elite 1500 ECU. FK02 showed a reduction in vehicle size and weight, a lower center of gravity, and decreased rotational mass.

Specifications

• Brakes: Wilwood GP200 Calipers
• Electronics: Haltech Standalone ECU
• Engine: Honda CBR600RR
• Weight: 504 lbs

FK02 Leadership

Team Captain: Matt Wetherell

Results

Competed at the 2017 FSAE Michigan May Competition, and finished in the 78th percentile. At this competition, we passed tech yet again and completed in all but two events.

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About

FK01 was developed and designed using sound engineering principles and a logical, no-nonsense approach to meet the needs of an amateur driver. The car's design was focused on the basic systems and functionality required of a race car with the goal of making a reliable product. The car employed high-quality, lightweight carbon body panels to reduce weight and increase aerodynamics. Each panel was adjustable fore and aft. 

Specifications

• Brakes: Wilwood GP200 Calipers
• Electronics: DynoJet Power Commander V
• Engine: Honda CBR600RR
• Weight: 531 lbs

FK01 Leadership

Team Captain: Drew Jones

Results

Competed at the 2016 FSAE Michigan May Competition for the first time. We finished in the 77th percentile, notably passing tech and going on to compete in every event. 

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