By Arthur E. Foulkes
TERRE HAUTE — A Terre Haute-based racing team has partnered with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in a joint venture that has the racing world taking notice.
Terre Haute-based Formula BMW racing team, Team Apex USA, has joined with Rose-Hulman and Z Corporation to use 3-D modeling to improve race car aerodynamics.
This sort of technology is not normally found in the Formula BMW series, Team Apex co-owner David Hunt said Friday. Such technology would normally be found in top racing series, such as Formula One, he said.
Members of other race teams – including teams in the Champ Car and Indy Racing League – have contacted Team Apex to learn more about what they are doing, he added.
“Part of beating the competition is beating them off the track,” Hunt said.
In addition to making Team Apex even more competitive for the 2007 season, the joint-venture is giving Rose engineering students with an interest in motor sports an opportunity for some real world experience.
“That’s what we’re trying to do here is give these guys a chance” to enter the highly competitive world of motor sports, said Nick Synder, a 2006 Rose graduate who is now race engineer for Team Apex. Working with Team Apex gives students “really good first hand experience you can’t get anywhere else,” he said.
While still a student, Synder worked for a Champ Car racing team and two Indy Racing League teams.
Z Corporation, a Massachusetts-based multi-national company, developed the hand-held laser scanner used to create the 3-D computer images of the race car. Technicians from Integrated Technology Solutions and students from Rose used the scanners to begin entering the data into a computer Friday.
In an project lasting two academic quarters, students will use the 3-D images to simulate aerodynamic testing of the race car, something that would be very difficult and very costly without the use of the technology. Formula BMW rules also limit track testing time.
“These students are … using the latest technology [and] creating the technology of tomorrow,” said Hunt in a press release.
“My goal as an engineer is to win the [Indy] 500,” team engineer Synder said looking at the Team Apex car. That goal mixes nicely with Hunt’s vision for Team Apex.
“One of the goals we have as a team is to race at Indianapolis in the 500,” Hunt said.
Hunt and Exline formed Team Apex USA in 2004 and competed in the Formula BMW series in 2005 and 2006. They have scored several victories, including an emotional win last June at Indianapolis. The team finished in the top four in the points in both seasons and plans to field a three car team in 2007.
The team is also planning to compete in the Indy Pro Series, which is the feeder series for the Indy Racing League, next season as well, Hunt said.
Arthur Foulkes can be contacted at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
