Many members of my team are in full support of delaying the rules change until next year when they can be distributed before conceptual and detailed design. Here are some reasons:
* FSAE cars are more advanced than ever and to be competitive against teams with many years of iterative design, younger teams must start the design process early (i.e. May)
* Judges and faculty advisers always stress finishing the car early so it can be properly developed in testing. How can this be done with only 8 months from the cradle to the grave?
* On aero cars, every aspect of the vehicle's design (suspension, power, chassis, electronics placement, etc.) is influenced by aerodynamic sizing and location. Being unaware of the aero regulations prior to design will result in vehicl es that are not cohesively thought out. Isn't cohesive/integrated design another piece of feedback that is always being stressed to the students by judges and faculty?
* The aero team at my school literally received tentative 2015 aero rules 2 days before the Conceptual Design Review. The committee should recognize that given the cars' more advanced nature, releasing the rules in August or September is no longer reasonable--thus a delay to 2016 should be enacted.