Skip Barber Racing speeds car design on SolidWorks

The company is using SolidWorks Office Premium 3D CAD. “AutoCAD was too much work, and making changes was very cumbersome,” says James Achard, lead engineer for operations at Skip Barber Racing School. “When we design in SolidWorks, the outcome is right first time, which lets us finish projects faster and save money on expensive track testing time. Moreover, SolidWorks streamlines design processes, freeing us to be more creative so we can design better products,” he adds. Achard’s team uses SolidWorks models to share design concepts with engineers on the shop floor so they can troubleshoot problems early and minimise rework. They also use SolidWorks eDrawings e-mail-enabled design communication tool to share solid models of the parts they’re working on with non-engineers such as instructors and marketing staff. Among other benefits, Achard also reckons that SolidWorks’ intuitive interface makes it easy to build instructor and driver feedback about, for example, accommodating the wide range of driver sizes into the car design without forcing massive rework with each change. Skip Barber Racing also uses SolidWorks’ COSMOSWorks Designer analysis tool for safety. Engineers perform torque and stress studies on the brake pedal assembly and front suspension components, for example, to ensure they’ll stand up to daily track use. Skip Barber Racing School has the world’s largest fleet of race cars, with more than 200 used in five base locations, as well as at more than 70 driving schools and events. Nearly 12,000 students a year learn how to drive everything from street-legal performance cars to open-wheel Formula race cars that reach 130 miles per hour.