Michigan Tech hosts the 16th annual Clean Snowmobile Challenge March 2-7, 2015

By: Allison Mills

The snow is thick and the test course is set. Soon more than 20 teams of snowmobiling students will flock northward for the 16th annual SAE International Clean Snowmobile Challenge.  

For the 13th year running, Michigan Technological University hosts the competition at the Keweenaw Research Center. The winter wonderland site is in the heart of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula where average snowfall tops 200 inches. The competition takes place from March 2-7 with events ranging from an endurance run to emissions and noise tests to acceleration and handling courses.  

The student teams come from all over the northern US and Canada — and even Finland this year — to engineer, test and showcase snowmobiles that are quieter and cleaner than modern sleds.

Laws passed in 2006 define emissions and noise standards for snowmobiles, which the students are challenged to surpass. With these laws and more strict regulations required for snowmobiles in national parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton, the educational opportunity has a real world connection.

The teams compete in three categories: internal combustion — gasoline; electric, also called zero emissions; and a new entry, diesel utility.

Each category has a unique purpose. Gasoline-powered sleds are the most common, of course, making their designs important for recreation and other uses. Held to the same noise and emissions levels, diesel utility sleds could never win a race, but are tested for pulling heavy loads. The electric sled is designed for scientific missions in the arctic areas where hydrocarbon emissions cannot be tolerated and the National Science Foundation funds the category.
 
The six-day competition starts on Monday March 2 and ends on Saturday March 7 with an awards ceremony honoring the winners of many categories.  Day one is devoted to technical inspections making sure all teams meet the rules.  Day two features a 100 mile Endurance Run from the Keweenaw Research Center to Copper Harbor.  Day three includes technical presentations and a public display of the sleds at the Copper Country Mall.  Day four includes emissions measurements, noise measurements, and subjective ride evaluations.  Day five continues with more emissions testing and a break for the students and volunteers to enjoy what the Keweenaw has to offer in skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. 

The final day’s events are open to the public and begin with a cold start test, then on to acceleration and handling events. Saturday night culminates in a banquet at the Michigan Tech Memorial Union Building on campus where the winners are announced.

Stay tuned for updates on the Clean Snowmobile webpage: http://www.mtukrc.org/snowmobile.htm  and the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SAECleanSnowmobileChallenge.