Snowmobile Challenge 2004 - A Great Success!
The SAE 2004 Snowmobile Challenge, hosted by Michigan Technological University
in Houghton Michigan, announced the winners of the annual Challenge on March
20, 2004.
Teams from 14 US and Canadian Universities competed in the event that was held
March 15-20, 2004. The snowmobile challenge is the Society of Automotive
Engineer's (SAE) newest collegiate design competition. Teams of
engineering students from the participating Universities take a stock
snowmobile and re-engineer it to reduce emissions and noise while maintaining
or improving performance. The University of Wisconsin at Madison won
this year's challenge. Second place was awarded to Michigan
Technological University. Third place went to the University of Maine.
Fourth place was awarded to the State University of New York in Buffalo.
Many snowmobile characteristics are used to evaluate the students' efforts.
Points are given for snowmobile endurance, fuel economy, braking
characteristics, acceleration and handling characteristics, snowmobile sound,
vehicle design and performance standards, emissions and overall value.
The practicality of the vehicle design and ultimately the marketability of the
vehicle in the free marketplace is accented in this international competition.
The members of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association - Arctic
Cat, Bombardier Recreational Products, Polaris and Yamaha Motor Corporation -
were gold sponsors of the event. University students and supporting
staff did a great job this year in preparing for and participating in the
annual event. The snowmobile community praises the efforts of all of the
teams that are working for the future of snowmobiling.