11/11/2024 - 11/27/2024 Updates

[Maristella Heo]

Northwestern Formula Racing

@nufsae | northwesternformularacing.com

Fall Newsletter - 11.27.2024

Blast to the Past: Welcoming Back Alums for Homecoming

Northwestern welcomed alumni back to campus for Homecoming Weekend from Nov. 15 to 17. On Nov. 15, the team worked with Baja and Solar to hold a car showcase on Garrett Lawn, where all three teams had cars on the lawn and answered questions from any onlookers (see top left image). On Nov. 17, the team hosted Breakfast with Exec, where Formula alums chatted with Exec Board members on topics ranging from the team’s IC history to how NFR25 is currently shaping up. After breakfast, the alums received a tour of the team’s spaces before being invited to the team’s Sunday workday.

During the workday, alumnus Jason Fishman held a recruiting session for Tesla, where he spoke about his experience at the company and how Formula helped prepare him for the job (see top right image). Alums also walked around and chatted with members about their projects, offering advice and feedback.

We’ve Got Mail! NFR25 Frame Tubes Arrive

Chassis Lead Nathan Lee is tasked with manufacturing the frame’s jigging system. He is opting for a network of aluminum extrusion, cylinders, and adapter plates, along with sheet metal jigs to stabilize the tubes instead of the cardboard cutouts used last year. The change primarily stems from issues with sagging of the cardboard last year, which caused misalignment.
The team has already welded both front and back bulkheads as the frame’s starting points. It aims to finish welding by the start of winter quarter in early January.

All Hands On Deck

With the frame sitting in the autobay, the team is busy assembling the accessories for welding. One large component at the foundation of jigging is adapter plates: ¼” aluminum stock that has been drilled and tapped to locate cylinders for u-blocks and suspension tab jigs. Suspension member and sophomore Lance Locker introduced interested Operations team members to the mill to get them started on adapter plate manufacturing.

Other Suspension team members are also working hard on the subteam’s hardware. Suspension Lead Aidan Gregoire taught sophomore Zander Chierici how to use the CNC lathe so that he could manufacture the steering column mount. Freshmen Ben Smith and Patrick Eleazar continued making float pins for the team’s brake rotors, while Project Manager Stella Heo and former Chief Engineer Isabella Menendez worked nearby on lathing cylinders for jigs.