Dear Jay LeBoff:


We are writing to you on behalf of all the members of our highly motivated Formula SAE team at the acclaimed art, architecture, and engineering institution, The Cooper Union.What distinctly separates most Formula SAE teams is experience in design and in racing. Our team is improving past designs to construct a racecar for a more aggressive level of competition. Yet, our ranking among other teams is greatly affected by our tack of driving experience. The Formula SAE racecar is rebuilt every year, so the car does not get fully assembled until just before the competition.


There is only minimal time throughout the academic year for practice driving, but the Hotseat Chassis Inc. Racecar Simulator in conjunction with the iRacing Motorsports Simulation has greatly helped us to gain driving practice from the beginning of the academic year. Since the beginning of September to the weeks just before the competition in May, the Simulator has provided students with the confidence and the ability of driving formula-style racecars in an experience that has enhanced our drive to succeed.Throughout the winter months, students in the lab can benefit from the simulator by honing their driving skills.


Students on the Formula SAE team have gained a valuable edge over many other teams because lap time improvements in time increments as small as a few milliseconds in the Simulation have increased the team's ranking by an unprecedented amount. At the competition in Michigan in May 2009, some of our drivers sat behind the wheel of The Cooper Union racecar for the first time. Yet, our results were remarkable. There is no doubt that the Simulator has enormously increased our driving skills and ability to control a formula style racecar.


The SAE competition in May 2009 was the team's finest moment in its three year legacy as the team placed 37th out of 123 international teams at Michigan International Speedway. At the 2009 competition, the team increased its 2008 ranking by 38 places. On behalf of the Formula SAE team, we thank you for supporting our tremendous efforts. We contribute part of our success to the Hotseat Chassis Inc. Simulator and the iRacing Motorsports Simulation.


Please continue to visit our website at www.coopermotorsports.org to browse team updates and upcoming events.


Yours truly,
Joseph Santore
Co-Captain


Tim Feduilo
Co-Captain


George Delagrammatikas
Faculty Advisor