About Us

What We Do

The Society of Automotive Engineers at UC San Diego, or Triton Racing, is dedicated to the design, fabrication, and testing of an open-wheel race car for the FSAE competition held in Brooklyn, Michigan. Triton Racing places students in an optimal position to gain hands-on knowledge while applying classroom theory in a real world setting. As a team, we strive to push and test our engineering and design capabilities so that we may extend the boundaries of innovation and establish ourselves in the forefront of FSAE.

Formula SAE is a world-wide engineering design competition held by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The competition provides a unique way to test students’ theoretical knowledge base in a practical, real-world context through manufacturing and fabrication of their designs. Along the way students create and hone their skills in engineering, design, management, and teamwork. Since its inaugural competition in 1979, the competition has grown to over 1000 universities in 10 locations, and is the largest undergraduate engineering design competition of any kind in the world.

Competition

The Society of Automotive Engineers developed the Formula SAE series as a way for student’s to put their classroom knowledge into motion. The competition is primarily engineering based but has expanded to include all aspects of racing including the business side. Points are earned in a series of off-track, “Static” events, and on-track, “Dynamic” events. These points are totaled, and the team with the most points at the end of the competition wins. 

Each team is judged based on their engineering skills and ideas as well as production quality through a design review. The design review is hosted by a panel of industry experts specializing in a variety of automotive fields. Each team is also scored based on their vehicle cost report as well as a business marketing presentation.

The vehicle must go through a rigorous technical inspection along with tilt, sound, and brake testing before it is allowed to compete. The drivers must also prove they have all the required safety gear and the ability to egress the car quickly. The dynamic portion of the competition includes acceleration, skid pad, autocross, and endurance events. Each competition is an incredible experience in the preparedness and camaraderie it takes to compete in the automotive world.

For more information about competition, see the official website at http://www.fsaeonline.com/.