KU News Release

June 11, 2007
Contact: Jill Hummels, School of Engineering, (785) 864-2934.

KU students place 10th at international race car competition

LAWRENCE — Engineering students at the University of Kansas earned a top-10 finish at the 2007 Society of Automotive Engineers Formula Car Challenge.

The Jayhawk Motorsports team placed 10th overall in the international competition held May 16-20 at the Ford Michigan Proving Grounds in Romeo, Mich. The achievement put the team at the top of all Big 12 contenders and well above several highly regarded engineering programs in the United States. Jayhawk Motorsports placed fourth in 2006.

“It’s great to be in the top 10 again this year,” said Robert Sorem, associate professor of mechanical engineering and faculty adviser for the team. “Our students worked so hard and brought great ideas to the design process. It feels amazing to have their efforts and achievements validated through the vehicle’s performance and by the professional engineers involved in the judging.”

The team has been a top-25 contestant in seven of the past nine years and is the only team to successfully complete all aspects of the grueling technical competition for the past seven years, said Sorem, who also is associate dean for the KU School of Engineering.

The competition required the 130 registered student teams to design, build and drive a small formula-style race car. At the competition, the teams and their cars were evaluated in a series of eight static and dynamic events, including high performance track endurance, acceleration, presentation, design, cost and technical inspection. Student teams also were required to adhere to extensive safety regulations, submit thorough design information and make several technical presentations.

In addition to a $250 cash prize and the Spirit of Excellence Award for finishing 10th, the team brought home the following awards:

— First place, Ductile Iron Design Contest, sponsored by the Ductile Iron Society, $2,000
— Third place, ArvinMeritor Inc. Suspension System Award, $250
— Fourth place, Society of Plastic Engineers Composite Award, $400
— Fourth place, ASBE Body Design Award

The KU team received special recognition during the awards ceremony for scoring in every event in the last eight years of competition.

Seniors in mechanical engineering have the option of taking part in the race car project as part of the capstone design series of courses in their major. Underclassmen in mechanical engineering often volunteer to be a part of the team and are then better prepared for the class and familiar with the competition when they reach the senior level.

The team plans to compete in the Society of Automotive Engineers Formula Car Challenge West competition, which will be June 13-16 at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Eighty teams from the United States, Canada, South and Central American, Asia and Europe are registered to participate.

Members of KU Motorsports are listed below by hometown, major, parents’ names, high school and role on the team.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66046
Edward Alsop, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Edward and Anita Alsop; Lawrence High School; suspension team and photo historian.

From Lawrence 66047
Jered Nunn, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Martin Nunn; Bennington High School; suspension team.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY
From Ellsworth 67439
Kamil Slomka, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Jerzy and Lidia Slomka; Ellsworth High School; powertrain team.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66215
Stuart Hembree, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Brad and Sonia Hembree; Olathe East High School; suspension team.

Todd McDonald, senior in architectural engineering and mechanical engineering, son of William and Beverly McDonald; Shawnee Mission West High School; powertrain team.

From Mission 66205
David Ralls, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Anne Henry and Richard Ralls; Shawnee Mission East High School; powertrain team captain.

From Mission 66205 and Overland Park 66207
Paul Garcia, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Robert Garcia of Mission and Debbie Butler of Overland Park; Blue Valley North High School; suspension team.

From Olathe 66061
Tony Bartholomew, senior in engineering physics, son of Ron and Nadene Bartholomew; Olathe North High School; chassis team.

Robert Roberts, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Steven and Karen Roberts; Olathe North High School; suspension team captain.

From Overland Park 66207
Christopher Dvorak, senior in business administration and mechanical engineering, son of Gayle Dvorak; Shawnee Mission East High School; powertrain team captain.

From Overland Park 66213
Jacob Homer, senior in mechanical engineering, son of David Homer; Blue Valley Northwest High School; volunteer.

From Overland Park 66223
John Miller, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Robert and Marlene Miller; Blue Valley North High School; chassis team.

From Shawnee 66203
Anthony Raymond, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Mary and Holly Raymond-Kier; Shawnee Mission North High School; powertrain team and team Web master.

LINN COUNTY
From Parker 66072
Lawrence Raitinger, senior in civil engineering, son of Lawrence and Lynna Raitinger; Prairie View High School; powertrain team.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Tonganoxie 66086
Gretchen Christenson, senior in mechanical engineering, daughter of Thomas and Janet Christenson; Eudora High School; chassis team.

MCPHERSON COUNTY
From Lindsborg 67456
Erich Ohlde, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Mark and Nacy Ohlde; Smoky Valley High School; powertrain team.

PRATT COUNTY
From Pratt 67124
Christopher Hedden, senior in engineering physics, son of Richard Hedden; Pratt High School; chassis team.

SALINE COUNTY
From Assaria 67416
Ryan Brack, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Charles and Tamra Brack; Southeast Saline Senior High School; powertrain team.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Derby 67037
Jared Anderson, junior in mechanical engineering, son of Kevin and Belinda Anderson; Derby High School; volunteer team captain.

Tanner Rinke, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Tracy Henseler; Derby High School; team captain.

From Wichita 67226
Colin Snyder, freshman in mechanical engineering, son of Alan and Beth Snyder; Wichita Southeast High School; volunteer.

SHERMAN COUNTY
From Goodland 67735
Matthew Hall, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Fred and Sharon Hall; Goodland High School; suspension team.

Joshua Topliff, senior in mechanical engineering, son of John and Carol Topliff; Goodland High School; suspension team.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66101
Jonathan Novak, doctoral student in mechanical engineering, son of Cynthia Novak; bachelor’s degree from KU; Sumner Academy of Arts and Science; volunteer.

ILLINOIS
From Joliet 60435
Timothy Gornik, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Greg and LuAnn Gornik; Joliet Catholic Academy; volunteer.

MISSOURI
From St. Louis 63117
Anthony DeFilippo, senior in business administration and mechanical engineering, son of Michael and Ellen DeFilippo; John Burroughs School; powertrain team.

OKLAHOMA
From Owasso 66749
Cameron Miller, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Robert and Janet Miller; Iola Senior High School; volunteer.

From Tulsa 74129
Joshua Moore, senior in mechanical engineering, son of Shari Davidson; Foyil High School; chassis team.

TEXAS
From Plano 75075
Jason Boots, senior in business administration and mechanical engineering, son of Gary and Shirley Boots; Plano Senior High School; chassis team captain and manager of team finances.

GERMANY
From Hassfurt
Michael Brunnquell, master’s degree student in business; bachelor’s degree from the University of Erlangen; suspension team and photo historian.

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