About Us
DesignJudges.com is a not-for-profit website with the express intent to curate high-quality content aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of young engineers participating in Formula SAE and Formula Student competitions.
Articles, interviews, and lectures are collected from the large community of FSAE/FS volunteers and student alumni.
Disclaimer
DesignJudges.com is not officially affiliated with any competition or SAE International. The content reflects the views of individual contributors. There is no unanimous opinion in the design judge community. While we strive for accuracy, we ask readers to remember that engineers understanding the same mathematics potentially reach different and equally valid conclusions. Examples include: tube frame vs. monocoque, small displacement vs. large displacement IC, RWD vs. AWD EV, tire selection, and many others.
Any safety advice is not comprehensive. Please consult your local OSHA or other regulatory bodies.
Our promise to the reader
We will do our best to remain objective and on-topic. The site is intended to welcome, educate, and inform people of all genders, races, religions, and levels of technical understanding.
Special thanks for the video bumper animation go to Sergio Perez, ME Cal State LA, Expected Graduation 2022.
Technical Editors
Justin Jang
Justin Jang is a freelance motorsports engineer currently working with Hyundai and Bryan Herta Autosport. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering in 2005, and with a Masters in Business in 2009. He founded and led the Cal Poly Formula Hybrid team, which built a camber car utilizing racing scooter tires. Justin has over a decade of experience as a professional motorsports engineer. He has been a part of excellent teams, winning numerous races and multiple championships. In his free time he enjoys sim racing, mountain biking, surfing, playing soccer, and cooking. A design judge since 2011, his continued involvement with SAE embodies his love of encouraging, motivating and convincing students to find a career outside of motorsports.
Chris Warren
Chris Warren is a mechanical engineer, specializing in structural dynamic measurements, and was most recently Relativity Space’s Terran 1 Stage 1 Responsible Engineer. Since graduating from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (BSME 2008, MSME 2010), he has contributed to the development of numerous vehicles ranging from automobiles, large and small unmanned aerial vehicles, manned aircraft, rockets, satellites, and notably submarines for the US Navy. While at UMass Lowell, he founded and led their Formula SAE team to a successful showing at FSAE VIR 2008. Chris has been a design judge since 2016 and is passionate about contributing to the FSAE community. On weekends, you can find him at a karting track, getting lost in state and national parks, skiing, traveling the world, or mentoring young engineers.
Skitter Yaeger
Skitter Yaeger works for JRD,
engineering circuit and rally cars.
Design judge since 2012, SES/Tech since 2017.
Becoming chief engineer, Baja SAE:
Q. We need someone to design a new frame. It will share suspension points with the second year car.
SY. OK, rules say where to put the tubes.
Q. We need to design new suspension components.
*crickets*
SY. Maybe, I could try to figure it out?
Q. OK, you're chief engineer.
Becoming chief engineer, Elan Deltawing:
Q. So we talked about designing a new engine mount? It's actually going to be a whole engine.
SY. Does the owner understand neither of us has ever designed an engine before?
Q. I don't think that's something he needs to know.