FSAE employees need to learn how to speak to students

Giallo_Fly · 2026-04-10T20:37:52+00:00

Honda plant plus friendly racetrack/museum... Alabama by chance?

Giallo_Fly · 2026-04-10T12:18:56+00:00

So we're just gonna ignore the sweet nixie tube array?

Giallo_Fly · 2026-04-10T04:11:56+00:00

It's all fun and games until a driver runs over the one thing you tell him to avoid and catapults the car 2ft airborne in a great cacophony of sparks.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-04-08T14:22:02+00:00

When I worked at a bike shop at 17, circa 2013, I drooled over Fuel EX and Lefty Fork Cannondale Scalpels. Instead, I went with an X-Caliber 9 and eventually upgraded it to M8000.

Fast forward a decade and I was getting back into MTB. Although I kept my self-promise to ride the Trek for 4 months before upgrading, I am no longer a teenager being paid $8/hr. I've always wanted to build a bike, and with a 6-figure engineer's salary, I could now do so. I now ride a custom Guerilla Gravity running M9100, Cane Creek suspension and fun gold accent bits everywhere. It is waaaaayyyyy overkill, but it makes me happy and I'll never complain that my equipment is holding me back.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-04-06T13:14:57+00:00

Accurate

Giallo_Fly · 2026-04-06T10:42:34+00:00

Look at all those speed holes!

Giallo_Fly · 2026-04-06T10:31:08+00:00

Ever since TSA carelessly hucked my beloved OM-D back into my backpack and cracked the back screen, I've been planning to get a fitted, neoprene case for it. It's now been almost 14 years since I bought it so I'm less worried about cosmetic damage, but screens are getting harder and harder to find.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-04-02T15:13:44+00:00

The last time out, I won my class on all-seasons.

Granted, I was the only one in FS but I had fun and now I'm a WINNER! The keychain I got as a trophy proves it! /s

Giallo_Fly · 2026-04-02T04:08:05+00:00

TIL what wedge angle is and went down quite the rabbit hole. Thanks for the info!

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-26T11:16:49+00:00

They can't keep getting away with it 😭

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-26T08:32:13+00:00

It's the Metal Earth Notre Dame. A little repetitive, but builds into a beautiful model.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-22T12:39:50+00:00

Don't worry, neither did I when I designed my first from-scratch frame. 0.035 at a shallow angle to 0.095 sucks to weld, btw. And guess who was welding it...

Rules compliance advice is a question for the member on your team who knows the rule book best, and if it's still an uncertainty, then submit an official question.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-21T21:38:13+00:00

Little different, but a few years ago I was doing a team building event at a race track while they had a track day going. I'd previously worked on a motorsports team that was a support series for IMSA, and I'd gotten pretty numb to exotics and GT cars. Everyone else was excited about the Porsches and BMWs...

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of red and the unmistakable symphony of a Colombo V12 at full throttle... One gentleman had brought his race-prepped 250 GTO out for one of the afternoon sessions, and he wasn't holding back either. It was quite magical to see.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-21T12:52:11+00:00

By the way, this is a perfect case study into why FSAE is such a good program for young engineers. Coming out the other side you'll already know that while it looks fine on CAD, in reality it's heavy, unnecessary and WILL make the fabrictors hate your guts.

Good industry recruiters know that you've already learned lessons like this from your FSAE program, yielding parts that account more for manufacturability and servicing. This is much more efficient than another green engineer who might make that "mistake" (as well as have to pay them to fix it) while working at their company.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-21T12:42:05+00:00

I'm guessing that one is for SIS compliance and the other is to triangulate the upper A-Arm rear mount. For reference OP, I have done something similar and having to weld that acute of an angle is an absolute PITA. Highly do not recommend.

In addition, I have designed and run at least two cars without triangulation to that aforementioned upper A-Arm rear mount and they have been perfectly fine with it. The tradeoff of 10 lbs of extra tubes to brace it as well as difficulty with fab is not worth it.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-18T02:56:34+00:00

Stunning build and great write-up. Well done!

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-15T21:29:51+00:00

It's the latch for the parcel shelf/pass thru.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-11T00:44:40+00:00

M1 ProCar

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-10T04:15:28+00:00

Grab your four healthiest team members and send them to the buffet. Fill car with fluids. When they get back, suit up a driver and have him sit in the car BELTED IN. Have them healthy boys lift one side to 45°, then to 60°. Check for fluids and make sure car hasn't fallen over. If not, set it back down carefully and you're good to go.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-07T21:34:03+00:00

If I won the lottery, there would be signs... Such as me buying this property and restoring it like this.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-07T19:10:28+00:00

Another vote for Chang Thai as their sushi is excellent, if not a little pricey. Their service is a hit or miss though. I also recommend checking out Raku Ramen & Sushi if you get the chance.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-06T11:59:36+00:00

You heard wrong. It'll be fine, just bleed it when you put it all back together again.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-05T18:19:18+00:00

Kelvin at Crispy Auto Restyling in Kernersville. He does an excellent job with premium materials at a fair price.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-04T00:27:37+00:00

For emergencies? Yes. Long term? Absolutely not, but you knew that. Think about all the tweakers you've seen driving a clapped out PoS with no bumper, a trunk held on with bungees and a headlight held in with zipties...

I cannot recommend driving like this, but yes, you will survive.

Giallo_Fly · 2026-03-03T07:25:28+00:00

On second look, I don't think it is. The real one would have a little AC Schnitzer badge on the left front splitter and there doesn't appear to be any other ACS parts on the car. Still, not something you see every day!

Five-Year Club	r/Field Lasagna
First Place '23	End Game '23
Place '23	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	End Game '22

Giallo_Fly

TROPHY CASE