Features Baja car gears up for spring run By Dennis Caldwell Hibernation is over. The Capitol All Terrain Access Vehi cle (CATAV) will be redesigned for the 1984 Mini Baja East which may be held near Morgan town, West Virginia in May. Two senior engineering students, Chris Patrignani and Greg Labelle, have committed themselves to the project of redesigning CATAV. Labelle said safety is the first concern in designing an all terrain vehicle. Before the competition, the vehicles are rolled over onto their roll cage and drivers must stand on top of the vehicle to demonstrate the roll cage is strong enough to support the weight of the driver and the vehicle. "Two different vehicles turned over during the events last year. One rolled down a 10-foot em bankment. The other, during the one-quarter-mile swim, turned over by rotating sideways in the water," Labelle said. "Neither of the drivers were hurt." CA TA V also had its problems because of the rough terrain and the endurance required of a vehi- Z I VI at the Capitol Campus Bookstore 6 pack cans carry-out Special Introductory Offer 6 pack slsi 79 Valid Dec 16, 1983 to Jan 18, 1984 cle. Chris Patrignani, president of the Society of Automotive Engineers' student branch at Capitol Campus, said, "There were three basic problems with last year's vehicle." First, the Yamaha 185 engine clutch failed on the attempted run up the 45 percent inclined hill. Next a weld broke in the tie rod on the steering mechanism. Last ly, the particular type of chevron treaded tires would not have suc- "Two different vehicles turned over during the events last year. One rolled down a 10-foot embankment. The other...turned over by rotating sideways in the water." cessfully controlled or propelled CATAV in the swim competition The parameters of the competi tion include a $1,350 maximum cost of vehicle materials and the completion of two days of com petition. The vehicle has to be designed to meet safety standards, consumer appeal, and automotive component design. In order to evaluate these Coca Cola Diet Coke Tab Sprite Sunkist Orange A & W Rootbeer characteristics, the vehicles are judged and then must compete in various events to test their design and endurance. Finally, they are judged a se cond time to evaluate damage to the vehicle and wear on the components. The guidelines also allow a vehicle to be entered a second year in the event, but require that significant modification of the vehicle be made to meet the re- Greg Labelle Engineering Student quirement of competition between new, creative designs. The top three winners in the 1983 competition were West Virginia, Bucknell and Georgia Southern Universities. "CATAV will cost a great deal of money," Labelle said. He hopes sufficient donations will make the project a success. Fund raising efforts were made by the L4‘A' 244 W. Water Street Middletown, PA 17057 944-7268 ~ ikt; Page 12 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) with a drawing for a $5O worth of gas. Senior engineering student thoughts on designing CATAV will focus on the various events. In order to improve in the hill climb event, the clutch mechanism may be changed from a wet clutch to a dry clutch designed for racing. Another important concern in this event is to main tain a high engine RPM (Revolu tion Per Minute). This could be accomplished through the use of a tachometer and a method of in creasing the engine RPM to meet the changing needs of CATAV as it ascends the hill. For maneuverability on the race course, which will be about fif teen miles long, the suspension needs to be beefed-up with larger tie rods. The steering mechanism needs to be changed to a worm rear unit or a small rack-and 7 pinion unit. Another design concern is the use of aluminum for the body and frame instead of sheet metal and galvanized steel. This change in weight will, along with the eight HP Briggs and Strattan engine, respond better to speed and acceleration. _ tifV` t 31!
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