In response to increasing concern about snowmobile noise and air pollution, Teton County Wyoming Commissioner Bill Paddleford and environmental engineer Dr. Lori Fussell worked with The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Institute of Science, Ecology, and the Environment (ISEE) to organize an intercollegiate design competition, the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge (SAE CSC).
The goal of the SAE CSC was to encourage development of a snowmobile with improved emission and noise characteristics that does not sacrifice performance. Modifications were expected to be cost effective and practical.
The second year of the competition, the SAE CSC2001, was held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming from March 24 - 30, 2001. Major sponsors of the SAE CSC2001 included the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Flagg Ranch Resort, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, Teton County Wyoming, Peaks to Prairies Pollution Prevention Information Center, United States Department of Energy, and WestStart.
Those participating in the event competed against each other in the categories of emissions, fuel economy/range, noise, acceleration, handling, cold-start, hill climb, engineering design paper, oral presentation, cost minimization, and static display. Points were awarded to teams based on their performance in each of the events.
The University of Waterloo won the SAE CSC2001 with a snowmobile featuring a two-stroke engine with catalytic aftertreatment and a custom silencer. This first-place entry was successful at reducing noise and emissions while simultaneously improving fuel economy and maintaining adequate performance. It was a reliable entry, successfully completing and passing all competition events.