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Idaho the Victor in 2003 CSC, MTU 2nd, Kettering 3rd
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The University of Idaho swept the 2003 SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge this weekend, taking first place overall and five other awards in the process.
Placing second was Michigan Technological University, which bounded up in the standings from a 10th place finish in 2002. MTU also received the Best Design Award. Taking the bronze was the only other Michigan team in the competition, Kettering University, which tied for first in last year's Challenge and was second in 2001. Kettering also received the Most Practical Solution Award.
This is Michigan Tech's first year hosting the Challenge, the Society of Automotive Engineers' newest collegiate design competition. A dozen teams of student engineers and their snow machines from across the U.S. and Canada converged on MTU March 19-22 with the goal of reducing emissions and noise while maintaining or improving snowmobile performance.
The competitors braved temperatures in the 30s and heavy rain at the primary test site, MTU's Keweenaw Research Center. However, the snow and the team members held up under the spring-like weather, and all of the events in the Challenge were completed.
On its way to a first-place finish, the University of Idaho also won awards for best fuel economy, quietest snowmobile, best performance, lowest emissions and best value. The team finished first in the 2002 Challenge.
Idaho's faculty advisor, Karen Den Braven, said her championship team has never stopped trying. "They're hardworking, dedicated, and they're really learning how to do engineering," she said. "After each competition, they ask what needs to be improved, and they work on it."
Their sled was equipped with a BMW K75RT four-stroke motorcycle engine, the same engine that has spelled success for Idaho for the last two years.
Bernhard Bettig, Michigan Tech's faculty advisor, called his team's second-place finish "Excellent! This is the best we've ever done.
"I'm very happy with their performance, and hopefully we'll do even better next year, since only four members of the team are graduating."
Other CSC award recipients were University of Wisconsin at Madison for Most Sportsmanlike Conduct, the University of Minnesota at Mankato for Best Braking, The University of Wisconsin at Platteville for Best Acceleration and the University of Wyoming for Best Handling.
Teams participating in the Clean Snowmobile Challenge include Clarkson University in New York, Colorado State University, Idaho State University, Kettering University in Flint, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State University-Mankato, State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of Idaho, the University of Waterloo in Ontario, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the University of Wyoming.
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