THE CWRU MOTORSPORTS SR5
The 2019 CWRU Motorsports competition vehicle, the SR5, is the culmination of nine months of continuous work by the team and has been developed to compete in the 2019 Baja SAE Collegiate Design Series competitions. Work on the SR5 began in June 2018, immediately after the end of the last 2018 Baja SAE competition, and involved the most significant change to CWRU Motorsports vehicle design in three years.
The SR5 features several new and innovative design features, notably the first successful implementation of carbon fiber control arms and frame bracing in the Baja SAE series. The most significant change in design from the 2018 competition vehicle is the rear suspension, which was fully re-designed into a system that is integrated into the drivetrain. The drivetrain features new axles and a strengthened gearbox, which support axial forces from the rear wheels, and a modified and re-tuned CVT that results in appreciably faster acceleration. Despite several dimensions of the frame being reduced to save weight, including a height reduction of 2.5 inches, cockpit space was increased by adjusting the placement of tube bends and weld locations. Refinements were made to the braking system to improve performance and reliability, and a new shock damping setup was developed to improve stability over large obstacles.
The result of these improvements is the lightest, fastest, and most nimble car the team has made. Hundreds of hours were dedicated by team members to this project, and several personal sacrifices were made to make this accomplishment possible. Browse the gallery below to appreciate the effort that the team has put into this vehicle.
