The USC Racing team has recently returned with the mixed feelings of disappointment and renewed energy from the 2012 Formula SAE competition in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Formula SAE competition starts with the various international collegiate teams each conceiving, designing, and building a car to enter. The competition consists of two broad classes of events: static and dynamic. The static events include a cost of manufacturing event, a business case presentation, and an engineering design report competition. The dynamic events are the races—an acceleration event, the skid pad, an autocross, and a combination fuel economy and endurance race. The scores from all the individual events are conbined to give a final score, with the static events contributing about one-third and the dynamic events two-thirds.

The trip was both challenging and rewarding, with the team coming away with a very valuable learning experience. They overcame a number of hurdles, but an engine failure led to their ultimate withdrawal from the final race.

Despite their withdrawal from the Endurance event, they did well in a number of events. The team successfully and quickly passed Tech Inspection and was able to deliver excellent Cost, Business, and Design Presentations.

Despite the unfortunate setbacks, they had a valuable and rewarding racing trip to Lincoln. They anticipate being a top team next year, and have already begun working on next year's entry, with plans to have the car rolling in time to race it locally before heading off to the 2013 SAE competition.

USC's 2012 Formula SAE Team. From left: Mike Kennedy, John Baltz III, Teresa Daugherty, Victor Silva, Alec Mandell, Rodney Yates, Nathan Pandian, Elias Izpisua-Rodriguez, Tyler Makin, Chris Ono, Coby Hartman, Mary Hall, Lee Logan, Henry Lewis, Max Ernst, Pablo Hernandez, Jason Zide.