Race Car Upright Plans and Inspirations

If I were to choose a personal aesthetic that I would use as a design inspiration for my main project, I would say that the aesthetic would be a minimalist/functional aesthetic. This aesthetic prioritizes functionality over decoration in which each aspect of the project design focuses on practicality and aids toward the design intent rather than ornamentation that does not change how well the project carries out this intended purpose. In addition, minimalist designs use materials that are often simple and durable to last many years. The shape of the designs consists of simple lines and smooth surfaces. The shapes that make up the designs are often uncluttered and well defined.

I chose this minimalist aesthetic as a personal aesthetic as I believe that it speaks most closely to me as a mechanical engineer. I often see items for their intended purpose in my everyday life to carry out tasks or perform a simple function. If the function is not performed properly, then the items aren’t useful. Rarely do I appreciate decorative aspects of a product and I see it frequently as unnecessary to a design which could be simplified.

The image below is an electric apple grinder that is commonly used in home brewing. This apple grinder is an example of a minimalistic aesthetic as all of the design features of the apple grinder are chosen for improving the functionality of the machine rather than decoration. The chosen material was even stainless steel due to its corrosion resistance which is important for sanitation in food production.

The image shown below is of a spacecraft hatch used in an Apollo mission. I believe that this is a great example of a minimalist design as each component of this hatch is built to aid in the mechanical function of the design being a lightweight structure that seals off the cabin of the spacecraft.

For my main project, I am going to maintain this minimalist aesthetic and apply it towards my design. I have decided that I will design and build a set of uprights for my 1965 Ford Mustang race car front suspension. Some of the functional aspects of this project that I will brainstorm going forward includes the interfaces between the upper and lower control arms and the upright, as well as the mounting of my front wheel hubs and brake assembly. These interfaces are an important first step in my design process as they directly impact the functionality of my design going forward.

Sources:

“Kegland Electric Apple Grinder: Stainless Steel: 2 HP: 110V.” MoreBeer!, www.morebeer.com/products/electric-apple-grinder.html. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.

Pearlman, Robert Z. “Apollo 11 Spacecraft on Display in Seattle for 50th Anniversary.” Space.Com, Space, 15 Apr. 2019, www.space.com/apollo-11-spacecraft-on-display-seattle.html.