In 2008’s competition, a four-cylinder, 600cc engine from a Honda CBR600 F4i motorcycle was at the heart of the Vanderbilt Motorsports car. For 2009, the team has decided to utilize a one-cylinder, 450cc engine from a Yamaha YZF 450 sport ATV. Despite the new engine’s smaller displacement, it offers a simpler design, improved fuel efficiency, and, above all, a significant weight advantage. While the potential power of last year’s engine is higher, the new engine’s simplicity will allow the team to get just as much practical power. Additionally, the new car’s lighter weight will allow the team to maximize on power. With the new engine weighing in sixty pounds lighter, this year’s car will be roughly 100 pounds lighter than last year’s and allow for a more compact chassis. Also, in the 2009 competition more emphasis will be added to the category of fuel efficiency. While efficiency accounted for fifty points in 2008’s competition, it will account for 100 points in 2009. With this in mind, the more efficient one-cylinder engine is the better option for the upcoming competition. Other benefits of the 450cc engine include a dry sump oil system, which will prevent the oil starvation characteristic of wet sump systems, and bevel cut gears, which will allow the driver to shift without clutching. Other upgrades the car will see this year are a new pedal rack, differential, braking system, and uprights. The goals for each of these systems is a lighter weight design which still has the durability of the old systems. Totaled up, redesigns of these systems should account for at least 30 pounds less weight than previous years, which is especially important on these systems since much of their weight is either unsprung or rotating. To see a three dimensional model of the current design click here: 2008 Design Model