I'm new too

Thanks for the kind welcome. There looks to be a wealth of information on here. Still, I've yet to find what a decent price for an SR is. How much should I expect to pay for anything from a messy project to a decent daily rider?

As for the FSAE car, I could go on and on. It typically weights sub 500lbs wet and has a maximum displacement of 610cc. Only 4-stroke piston engines are allowed. Depending on the fuel type you run (94 and 100 unleaded or E85), the engine has to have a small (19 - 20mm) restrictor . This keeps the power levels down, with most cars pumping out 40-50hp at the rear wheels. Cornell has built some amazing turbocharged motors running ethanol that have hit the 100 mark.

Every year, 100+ schools from around the world meet in Detroit to compete. We're judged in static events by design judges from the auto makers and suppliers on cost analysis, design and a sales presentation as if the team was marketing their vehicle to a weekend racer. Then we compete in dynamic events- acceleration, skid pad, autocross and a 22km enduro/fuel economy test.

Roughly 1/3 of the cars entering the competition usually finish every event. Many get taken out by mechanical failures or poor designs. It's highly competative.

This is the computer rendering of this year's car from my old team, the University of Oklahoma

They placed 12th this year; the highest ever placing for the school. It's a chromoly steel space frame with a semi-stressed engine and full carbonfiber body on custom made aluminum mono-nut wheels.

Two years ago when I graduated, we had implemented a launch control system, wireless data acquisition, power adjustable brake bias, and had a functional no-lift shift system. I worked on the brake system that year, which won a $1300 award from ContinentalTevis for brake system design. We had a trick system with ductile iron floating rotors, Brembo calipers, AP Racing mastercylinders, and enough thermal, stress and weight data to make the pros jaws drop.

Anyways, if you're really interested, www.fsae.com and students.sae.org/competitions/formulaseries/ both have good information.
This is the best gallery I've found so far with pictures from last week's competition:
evilallianceracing.com/ipw-web/gallery/FSAE06

These competitions take place all around the world, too. The Australasia one is supposed to be a good event. Wollongong (sp?) came to the US a few years ago and soundly stomped everyone. This year will be the first year for FSAE-West in California some time next month.

I've rattled on enough. I need to get back to work and looking at Stinky's website.