In this episode of Do It For a Living, we sit down with two students from the University of North Texas Formula SAE team. This marks our first video episode and a new format where we explore the next generation of motorsports talent. Emily Gooden is the Operations Manager and Zach Warren is the EV Powertrain Lead - both are seniors studying engineering at UNT. Kevin, who has an FSAE background, discusses what it takes to run a student racing team with Emily, and put Zach's powertrain work to the test in a "Shark Tank" style technical challenge.

Emily shares how she discovered FSAE, worked her way up to Operations Manager, and now leads a team of students with varying skill levels and commitment. She walks us through the design and build cycle from concept to competition, the biggest challenges facing the team including funding and recruiting, and how they handle setbacks as a group. Zach takes us deep into the EV powertrain system he's developed, explaining the problem they were solving, their design constraints around weight, cost, and manufacturing, and how they validated everything through simulation and testing. Kevin challenges Zach with tough questions about scaling the technology beyond FSAE, manufacturing at volume, identifying customers, and what's stopping commercialization.

Both students discuss how the team balances proven designs against risky new innovations and what FSAE teaches that you can't learn in a classroom.

Find out more about UNT Formula SAE at their website:  UNT Formula SAE. 
instagram:   @meangreenracing
email:  SAEUNT@gmail.com

Check out My Shop Assist at MyShopAssist.com for shop management software built for the performance and racing industry, 

Come see us at the PRI show on December 11-13 - booth 4905 on the edge of Machinery Row in the Yellow Hall.

Be sure to subscribe!