Skip Barber Racing Accelerates Race Car Design with SolidWorks Software; Enthusiasts from Around the World Learn to Drive Formula-Style Cars at 130 mph.

CONCORD, Mass. -- The Skip Barber Racing School is using SolidWorks(R) Office Premium 3D CAD software to design the race cars that thousands of enthusiasts from around the world learn to drive at race tracks in the U.S. The school's engineers have reduced design time by as much as 80 percent, improved car performance, and cut costs using SolidWorks.

Skip Barber Racing School has the world's largest fleet of race cars, with more than 200 cars used in five different base locations as well as at more than 70 driving schools and events. Nearly 12,000 students a year learn how to drive everything from street-legal performance cars to open-wheel Formula race cars that reach 130 miles per hour in intense, closely monitored conditions. Since its founding in Lakeville, Conn. in 1975, the school has trained more motorsports winners and champions than any other organization of its kind. Its engineers chose to switch from 2D to 3D CAD to minimize design cycles, reduce errors, and more easily build instructor feedback into new designs.

"AutoCAD(R) was too much work, and making changes was very cumbersome," said James Achard, lead engineer for operations at Skip Barber Racing School. "When we design in SolidWorks, the outcome is right the first time, which lets us finish projects faster and save money on expensive track testing time. Moreover, SolidWorks streamlines design processes, freeing us to be more creative so we can design better products."

Achard and his team use SolidWorks models to share design concepts with engineers on the shop floor so they can troubleshoot any problems and minimize rework. They also use eDrawings(R) e-mail-enabled design communication tool to share solid models of the parts they're working on with non-engineers such as instructors and marketing staff. Because the school's cars must accommodate drivers ranging in height from five feet to six feet, five inches, engineers need to design components and features that can work for students of most any size. SolidWorks' intuitive interface makes it easy to build instructor and driver feedback about such features into the design without having to start over with each change.

Skip Barber Racing also uses SolidWorks' COSMOSWorks(R) Designer analysis tool to ensure the school's safety record remains unblemished. Engineers can easily perform torque and stress studies on the brake pedal assembly and front suspension components to make sure they'll stand up to daily track performance.

"Skip Barber Racing lets people fulfill their dreams of getting behind the wheel of a race car and zooming around a track at blinding speeds," said Rainer Gawlick, SolidWorks vice president of worldwide marketing. "But ensuring peak performance and safety for each vehicle requires precise engineering, and SolidWorks is the means of delivering on that process."

Skip Barber Racing relies on authorized SolidWorks reseller Computer-Aided Products for ongoing software training, implementation, and support. For more information about the Skip Barber Racing school and the experience of driving 130 mph, listen to the podcast at http://www.solidworks.com/mediapodcast.

About Skip Barber Racing, LLC 

Headquartered in Lakeville, Conn., and operating out of four additional base locations, Skip Barber Racing is the world's largest racing and driving school, available at close to 30 race tracks across the U.S. and Canada. In addition to the Skip Barber Racing School, the Dodge/Skip Barber Driving School, and the High Performance Driving School, it runs six separate open-wheel racing championships, including the prestigious entry level pro series, the Skip Barber National Presented by RACER. More information is available by calling 860.435.1300, and at (www.skipbarber.com).

About Computer-Aided Products

With offices throughout New England, Computer-Aided Products is a leading regional reseller of CAD/FEA/PDM software specializing in SolidWorks, rapid prototyping systems, training, consulting, and support. Our engineering staff includes experts in design, analysis, drafting, PDM, and Windows networks. Our partnership with the best solutions in the industry, along with more than 17 years of practical experience, provides a solid foundation for your mechanical engineering and design process. For more information, visit the company Web site (www.capinc.com) or call 800.424.2255.

About SolidWorks Corporation

SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for design, analysis, and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, providing intuitive, high-performing software that helps product design teams develop great products. For the latest news, information, or an online demonstration, visit the company's Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call [phone]).

SolidWorks and eDrawings are registered trademarks of SolidWorks Corporation. COSMOSWorks is a registered trademark of Structural Research & Analysis Corporation. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright (c) 2006 SolidWorks Corporation.