The University of Tennessee Motorsports Team

The University of Tennessee has been invited to participate in the first ever intercollegiate motorsports series. The series is sponsored by 600 Racing, the company that makes Legends Cars, and sanctioned by National Collegiate Automobile Racing (NCAR). Tennessee' entry is a replica of a 1937 Ford sedan. There will be exhibition event held at Charlotte Motor Speedway July 26, before the first ever Indy Racing League race to be held at the speedway.

Each school ( The University of Tennessee, Duke University, University of South Carolina, North Carolina State University, and University of North Carolina Charlotte) will have two drivers to compete in two 10 lap events, with the winning school having the highest combined point total for the two events. Plans for the series include expansion to 20 schools and 10 events this fall.

The teams took delivery of their cars Thursday, July 10, at 600 Racing's factory in Harrisburg, North Carolina. There was a driver orientation session held at a 1/5 mile asphalt oval near Charlotte Motor Speedway and a mechanical orientation session held at the factory.


Brian buckling in at the orientation session


On the 1/5 mile oval at Charlotte

The Team

Butch Irick


Butch Irick

Butch is one of the drivers as well as one of the mechanics. He is a doctoral candidate in Mechanical Engineering and holds a BS and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee.

Brian Moore


Brian Moore

Brian is one of the drivers and is also one of the mechanics. He is a Senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Brian is also a member of the University's FutureCar Challenge team.

Tim Johnsonl


Tim Johnson

Tim is the crew chief for the team. He is a Senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Tim is also a member of the University's FutureCar Challenge team.

Jill Nicole Ballard


Jill Nicole Ballard

Nicole is one of the mechanics on the team. She is a rising senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering and is also a member of the University's FutureCar Challenge team.

Jeff Hodgson


Professor J. W. Hodgson

Professor Hodgson is the faculty advisor for the motorsports team as well as for the FutureCar Challenge team.

Bill Hamel


Professor W. R. Hamel

Professor Hamel is the faculty advisor for the motorsports team as well as for the FutureCar Challenge team.

Sponsors

The Car

Tennessee's vehicle is a 5/8-scale replica of an 1937 Ford Sedan, modeled after the modifieds raced in the early years of NASCAR. The car, like all Legends Cars, is powered by a Yamaha XJ-1200 four cylinder air-cooled motorcycle engine. The engine is rated at 125 horsepower, and drives the rear wheels through the integral motorcycle transmission connected to a modified Toyota Celica rearend. The car is equipped with front disc/rear drum brakes also taken from the Celica, rack and pinion steering, coil-over suspension on all four corners, a four-gallon fuel cell, five-point safety belt and harness, factory-manufactured racing seat and 13x7-inch steel wheels. All Legends cars compete on B. F. Goodrich Comp T/A steel belted radial tires. For the exhibition event, our car's springs, tires, and rearend gear ratio must remain unchanged; although, changes to these components are generally allowed in racing.
Friday morning after the trip home from Charlotte


Professor Hodgson


Starting on the chassis setup


Breaking in the engine


Getting dressed up at TDS Exhibits


All done


Now that says TENNESSEE


Brian's and Butch's favorite view


Professor Hamel preparing for an interview on WVLT