An endurance run to Copper Harbor. Sound checks. Emissions tests. The 19th annual Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) International Clean Snowmobile Challenge returns to Michigan Technological University's Keweenaw Research Center in Houghton, MI, March 4-9.
Twenty-two collegiate teams from across North America, including Michigan Tech, have engineered existing snowmobiles to enhance environmental performance. Student-innovated sleds will compete in categories including fuel economy, noise, acceleration and handling, in gasoline and diesel categories.
Sponsorship from industry leaders like MacLean-Fogg, Faurecia (Four-see-ah) and AVL drive the quest to improve the industry and cultivate top engineering students. The winner of the competition is awarded the MacLean-Fogg Cup, a traveling trophy inspired by the NHL Stanley Cup.
"The SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge is more than just a competition," said Dave Lomasney, president of MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions. "It’s an event where college students come together to learn, collaborate, be creative and have the chance to discover new ideas and innovations. It’s a true test of their engineering knowledge and ability to think outside the box to improve the way things are being done today."
“Michigan Tech is honored to have MacLean-Fogg become the premier sponsor of the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge,” event coordinator and Keweenaw Research Center Executive Director Jay Meldrum said. “Their sponsorship of the MacLean-Fogg Cup exemplifies this support and will provide a lasting impression on the students. We have more than100 sponsors for this event, some contributing cash, some providing food, others provide discounted hotel rooms. It's great for the community as well as the nationwide sponsors."
AVL has been sponsoring SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge for 11 years.
"AVL brings a team of eight engineers and more than a half million dollars of high-precision R&D test equipment to the event," Sean Egmon, AVL assistant director of services, said. "Working with Keweenaw Research Center and Michigan Tech, we create a high-performance test cell to perform EPA regulatory tests that measure fuel economy, emissions and the performance of each of the competitors. This gives the students the opportunity to interact with certification grade test equipment that isn’t easily available to most teams."
The public is welcome to check out the sleds, and talk to students and industry leaders from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, at the Keweenaw Research Center, which is located at 23620 Airpark Boulevard, near Houghton County Memorial Airport.
Review the full schedule and learn more about the teams.