Strong Finish for RIT Formula Race Team in National Competition

RIT faculty advisor garners top recognition

Note: Digital photograph available

In its first race of the year, Rochester Institute of Technology’s Formula-car team captured six top-20 placements in competition among 140 teams at the annual Formula SAE, May 14-18, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.

RIT’s top performance was in the cost-report category, for which it earned second place. RIT finished in 12th place overall and was one of only about 30 teams to score in every category.

Also at the event, RIT Formula-team faculty advisor Alan Nye, professor of mechanical engineering, was honored with the Carrol Smith Mentor’s Cup, recognizing outstanding mentoring, presented by the Sports Car Club of America. The award is named for a race-car engineer and driver, military pilot, teacher and author who passed away May 16.

"Carroll Smith was an outstanding individual," Nye says. "It’s an honor to receive this award."

Nye is also a five-time recipient of the Faculty Advisor Award for excellence from the Society of Automotive Engineers, the main sponsor of Formula student competitions. Nye has been advisor to RIT’s student chapter of SAE since 1978 and guided RIT’s Formula team to national and international competitions yearly since 1993. The Scottsville resident has been on the RIT faculty since 1977.