The members of UB's Society of Automotive Engineers' clean snowmobile team don't have a tan to show for their spring break.
But they do have seven first-place trophies.
Led by captain Brian Belmont, a junior mechanical engineering major, the team took first place for performance, fuel economy, noise reduction and design practicality to put them in first place at a national competition in Houghton, Mich.
The team faced stiff competition from 13 schools in over 10 categories ranging from an oral presentation to a 100-mile endurance trial. Due to their efforts, innovations are being developed and tested in competitions that may help lessen snowmobile pollution.
Team member Daniel Bugbee, a junior electrical engineering major, said the competition was a big success.
"Everybody likes to win." Bugbee said. "But it was a lot of fun too. Everybody seemed to be there to benefit the future of snowmobiling."
Members of the team said the future of snowmobiles could be in jeopardy if the machines don't clean up their act. Places like Yellowstone National Park, which are favorites of snowmobile enthusiasts, have threatened to ban the vehicles due to the noise and pollution they produce.
Eric Peckham, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said that is why the Clean Snowmobile Competition was created.
"We need stricter emissions standards. A snowmobile doesn't have the most efficient motor. It's powerful and you get a lot of bang for your buck, but it produces a lot of pollutants," Peckham said.
Bugbee said he sees the design competition as a compromise between environmentalists and snowmobile enthusiasts.
"A lot of environmentalists are concerned, and they should be because obviously it's important to protect our environment," Bugbee said. "But there's a group of people that enjoy snowmobiling as a way to get around and see the outdoors. If you make the snowmobile environmentally friendly, you satisfy both groups."
UB's team managed lower emission pollutants by adding a catalyst to the exhaust system and lean fuel injection maps. To help reduce noise pollution they included sound absorbing material throughout the body of the snowmobile and created a sealed hood.
Although UB's sled won the competition, Bugbee said he enjoyed seeing the other schools' designs.
"You saw a lot of innovative things that you wouldn't have thought about," he said.
Andres Soom, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, has been the club's faculty advisor since its start in 1979. He said UB generally does well in the Clean Snowmobile Competition.
"We've had a competitive sled every year. Often it comes down to whether a part breaks during competition. This year the vehicle survived and won," Soom said.
Belmont, the team captain, said this year a part did actually break on the sled during the endurance test. An exhaust manifold cracked, potentially lessening the snowmobile's efficiency. Even with the problem, however, UB managed to take home the win for the best fuel economy.
Although the idea of spending spring break in a place with even more snow than Buffalo may not sound like the perfect vacation, Bugbee said it didn't bother him.
"Going somewhere warm would have been nice, but I didn't mind it at all because I was doing something I like," Bugbee said.
Peckham agreed this was a good way to spend his spring break.
"It was a lot of fun, and it was a long trip with people you're friends with," Peckham said.
Although this was Peckham's first year with the club, he said he plans to be involved for his duration at UB. Peckham said he urges other interested students to join the group.
"We need more members," he said.
Soom said all majors are welcome as long as they have "something to bring to the table," but he stressed the importance of hands-on learning.
"This club is a very valuable thing," Soom said. "It's nice to win a competition once in a while, but this is an educational program, not a racing team."
Peckham agreed winning is not the only reason to participate but it certainly has its benefits.
"It's awesome," Peckham said. "It feels great."
