Clean Snowmobile Team hoping for first competition

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Michigan Technological University Keweenaw Research Center

Members of the RIT Clean Snowmobile team at the 2013 Clean Snowmobile Challenge. From left: Tom Mordovancey ’13 (mechanical engineering technology), Mark Menzenski ’13 (mechanical engineering technology), John Bulzacchelli and Zach Kraenzle ’13 (mechanical engineering technology).

John Bulzacchelli, a fifth-year mechanical engineering technology student from Pleasant Valley, N.Y., is the president of the RIT Clean Snowmobile Team. The team was founded two years ago to compete in the Society of Automotive Engineers Clean Snowmobile Challenge, an engineering design competition with the goal of re-engineering snowmobiles to reduce emissions and noise. Bulzacchelli is hopeful that the team will be ready to enter their vehicle in the challenge for the first time this spring.

Question: Why did you choose to come to RIT?
Answer: I wasn’t really set on RIT until I toured it. Before I committed, I stayed on campus for a weekend in the summer and that’s when I decided I wanted to come here. They showed us all the facilities, labs and projects that were going on and that really sold it for me. The other big draw was the co-op program. It was something I found really attractive compared to other engineering schools.

Q: Did you always want to be an engineer?
A: Oh yeah. I’ve been involved with cars practically my entire life. My dad and uncle own a car repair shop, and I’ve been working part-time there since I was about 14. I’ve always wanted to get into the design side of things.

Q: How did you become a part of the Clean Snowmobile Team?
A: I wasn’t one of the founders, but I think I joined about a week after it was founded. I was good friends with one of the driving forces behind the club, Mark Menzenski. I honestly didn’t have too much interest in it until I heard that they were doing a lot of engine design work.

Q: What is your role on the team?
A: I’m president now, and most of the power train stuff still goes through me. I oversee our engine group, which includes emissions, turbo, power—that’s all on me. And then as the president I play a team manager role as well. It’s definitely a lot of work!

Q: How fast does your snowmobile go?
A: That’s the question everyone always asks, and the truth is we don’t know yet because we are still building the vehicle. It’s designed for 120 horsepower, so it should move pretty well.

Q: Why hasn’t the team been able to compete in the Clean Snowmobile Challenge previously?
A: We simply weren’t ready for competition in our first and second year. The issue we had was that we overdesigned the project. I think we have a snowmobile that can win, but we’ve struggled with resources. However, this year we are looking the best we ever have, so I’m hopeful we will compete this year.

Q: Why was the challenge started?
A: The story behind that goes back to Yellowstone National Park. Historically, snowmobiles have been heavy polluters—much, much worse than a typical car because they have far fewer regulations. Yellowstone ended up banning snowmobiles because of pollution concerns and the Clean Snowmobile Challenge was born.

Q: What do you want to do after graduation?
A: I want to end up in engine design or calibration somewhere in the automotive sector. I think I’d like to get my master’s eventually, but I want to get into the industry first and start working.

Q: What will you miss most about RIT?
A: Definitely Clean Snowmobile Team. It’s my life right now. I’m also going to miss the culture of the school. It’s really neat how you get this mixture of so many different people that work together to make awesome stuff. With that said, I won’t miss not sleeping! I’m very excited to get back on a regular sleep schedule.

Derrick Hunt compiles “Student Spotlights” for University News. Contact him at djh9758@rit.edu with suggestions.