The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Thermoforming Division held its fourth student radio-controlled car design and racing competition at its October conference in Cleveland.
Nine students from five schools across the U.S. participated, designing, manufacturing and decorating the bodies of radio-controlled cars. The chassis were provided by the Division, with support from corporate sponsors LyondellBasell, McConnell Co., Monark Equipment, MSA Components and Primex Plastics. The car bodies were to be formed using thermoformable plastic and the vacuum/thermoforming process.
Students also raced the cars on an indoor track on the exhibit hall floor during the conference.
Cash prizes were awarded for people’s choice, best design (split three ways) and the race. The participants were:
- Andre Roumer and Julian Tarloski-Parady, Central Connecticut State University (first place in the race, fast qualifier and best design)
- Gabriel Meyer and Sam Wren, Purdue Polytechnic Institute (second place in the race)
- Jazmine Echevarra, Georgia Institute of Technology (best design and people’s choice)
- Roberto T. Ponte, Georgia Institute of Technology (second fast qualifier)
- Kevin Rheaume and Ridwane OuroBody, Central Connecticut State University (best design)
- Tanisha Francis, Kettering University
“Each year, the RC Car Race becomes more exciting, and more competitive,” said Dan Sproles, SPE Thermoforming Division education chair/RC Car Race chair. “The enthusiasm demonstrated by the faculty advisers and the students made this a particularly fun competition. The designs were also really impressive, and we hope that even more schools will participate in the 2025 event.”
