Jayhawk Motorsports Team to display car at Kansas Speedway July 4-6

LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas Jayhawk Motorsports Team will make an appearance at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., July 4 through 6.

The team of mechanical engineering students will display the formula-style car, which team members designed and built from scratch, at the Fan Walk area during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Indy Racing League events during the July 4 weekend at the speedway.

The students spent the past academic year constructing the car and earned their best finish at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2003 Formula SAE competition. The team finished 17th in a field of 140 registered teams. The KU team has finished in the top 25 in four of the past five years of competition.

Team members will be on hand to talk with race fans about their project and answer questions from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 4 and 5 and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 6.

The Formula SAE competition asked engineering students from around the world to design and build a small formula-style car. The KU vehicle uses a Honda F4I motorcycle engine and can go from zero to 90 miles per hour in under five seconds. The students have incorporated innovations into the brilliant-blue vehicle. It features pneumatic (push-button) shifting and a rear structure that allows better access to the motor and vital components.

During competition, the vehicles are judged in three categories: static inspection and engineering design, solo performance trials, and high-performance track endurance. Student teams also must submit highly detailed design information and make multiple technical presentations during the competition. Students must adhere to extensive safety rules and regulations during the design and construction of their vehicle as well as during its operation in the competition.

Kansas Speedway, 400 Speedway Blvd., in Kansas City, Kan., is hosting the team's appearance during the weekend. A speedway official said the July 5 and 6 races have sold out, but fans still can purchase tickets to the July 4 events by calling (913) 328-7223 or by going to www.kansasspeedway.com.