Hey Fellas, I'm sure you've all been wondering if the listserv is still working, and if we are still around, etc etc. Basically, us returning members (mainly us 3 juniors) have had a busy past couple of weeks with some tight homework/exam schedules. However, we have managed to make some progress on some key things; mainly securing some loose ends on the design. In this edition: +Design Progress: -Gearbox: +Timken +Gears +Fabrication -Frame -Polaris Parts +Driving? +Shop Times? +Sponsorship +Website Gearbox: The gear box design is very close to completion (I know this was said a while back, but its undergone a few changes for the better and now its pretty close.) I've been in contact with Timken (a good company you should look up. They manufacture some very well designed/well built bearings for a wide range of applications). They are going to be our bearing supplier this year, and I should also note that they sponsor SAE competitions and will be giving us the bearings for FREE. Very cool. I'll be getting a number from one of our AERO buddies for a company in Williston that will most likely be the supplier of our gears. We'll need 4 gears for the gear box and we should be looking to spend about ~$200 on them total. They will most likely need to be customized (Mainly faced down a bit to get them smaller and also punch some speed holes in them for weight saving purposes. This won't be happening until winter rolls around most likely, but it'll give you younger guys a good look at some cool machining processes (cooler than just notching tubes and turning down delrin bushings - both of which things we will be teaching/practicing) We also received our free and sweet IBC CVT a few weeks ago. Frame: With the design near completion, I will be finalizing the frame design and setting up a tubing order. This order will most likely go out early next week (hopefully Tuesday at the latest). I am not sure of the turn around date on the tubing as I don't remember it from previous years, but when it comes in, it is important to index it all - by diameter/wall thickness and get it cleaned up (it comes covered in oil for improved shelf life) before it starts getting welded, etc etc. I want to organize a tube bending "seminar" in a couple of weeks for everyone (including the returning guys) as it's a pretty essential task and a cool process. It's not that difficult but it is important to learn how and simply practice doing it. Keep your eyes open for an update about this. Polaris Parts: As mentioned in the past, Polaris is a big sponsor of the event - giving huge discounts on parts for the car. This weekend Ben Greenfield (I'll talk to you about it later Ben) will hopefully have some time to organize our preliminary parts order. A few of you expressed interest in helping out with this and I urge you to email Ben - [log in to unmask] - if you would like to help out with this and work out a time/day between you all. It would probably be about 2 hours of work this first time, just going over the old car to get every little bearing/spacer/bolt that we get from Polaris and it'd help Ben to have an extra set of hands to help out. Please let one of us know if you want to help. Driving: As noted above, we have received the new CVT. We want to set it up on last years car to do some testing/tuning with it and see what it is capable of. I'm sure many of you are anxious to get out there and drive. I emailed someone at Risk Management last week and haven't heard back, so I'll be placing some phone calls Monday to have our driving agreement updated. We will be taking the old car out in its current configuration to get some benchmark numbers. We will then change out the CVT for the new one to see if there are some improvements. Shop Times: I had mentioned in the past about you guys introducing yourself to Floyd and working out either a shop orientation or simply offering to help him out with projects. If any of you have done so, please let me know and I'll take note of it. If you haven't, I urge you to either do so, or shoot me an email with some times you have free in the next couple of weeks that I can meet with you and discuss some stuff. Sponsorship: A few of you have emailed me about potential sponsors you may have. Please get back to me again with some names/addresses/contacts/any info you have. Our sponsorship packets probably won't get sent out until thanksgiving time, but we need to get a list going, and re-work our sponsorship packet - (Also a good task for anyone interested - let me know if you want in on that) Website: Mike Karepeles did a great job last year setting up our website template and getting information on it. I've done some work on it this year and have some things set up for info, schedules, etc. We have a bio page set up. If you want to have your name with some info about yourself, send me an email with the info you would like displayed and a picture of yourself. Check out this link, I created my own profile and you should try to follow the format. If there are other criteria you would like, go ahead and add it. Not a problem. http://www.uvm.edu/~minibaja/2007-2008/template_current/bios/murray/murray.htm Note: there are some broken links/nonexistent pages still up. I just haven't had a chance to update some of it. Hope you enjoyed that long email. I think that is it for now. If there is anything you wish to announce/discuss/mention feel free to send an email to the listserv at any time. Just use [log in to unmask] as the address and everyone will get it. Hopefully all classes are going well and you folks are still interested in the club. I know it's tough at first getting involved but when the build begins, you'll know that the wait was worth it. Keep your eyes/ears open for mention of a possible quick meeting next week to discuss some stuff. Take care and enjoy the weekend. Mike --------------------------- Think before you send!!! By hitting reply, you will reply to the ENTIRE listserv. If you wish to send a personal reply to the orginal poster and NOT the entire listserv, copy and paste their address and compose a new message. Save yourself the embarrassment and think twice! http://www.uvm.edu/~minibaja/2006-2007/ Currently Transitioning to updated 2007-2008 template