WARRENDALE, Pa., March 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Snowmobiles often come under fire as sources of both air and noise pollution.

Eliminating those problems will be the goal of some of the country's top student engineers when they meet in Houghton, Mich., on March 19-24 for the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, sponsored by SAE International's Collegiate Design Series.

Teams of student engineers will bring their designs to Houghton and Keweenaw Research Center at Michigan Tech University for the six-day competition to create an environmentally friendly snowmobile. It is the fifth year for the

"This competition is very timely, considering the controversy that surrounds snowmobiles," Robert Sechler, Manager of SAE International's Educational Relations, said. "Not only is the National Park Service studying the impact of snowmobiles on the environment, but discussion of a ban from some national parks has surfaced as well. The goal of this competition is to reduce the environmental impact of snowmobiles. If we can find ways to quiet the noise and cut the emissions, everybody wins."

In the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, teams of engineering students compete to re-engineer an existing snowmobile to reduce emissions and noise, while improving the vehicle's performance characteristics. The modified snowmobiles also are expected to be cost-efficient.

Teams compete in tests of endurance, acceleration, handling, rider-comfort and towing.

For more information or press credentials on the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, or any event on the 2007 SAE Collegiate Design Series schedule, please email pr@sae.org.

Contact: Nancy Lewis or Shawn Andreassi, both of SAE International, at 1- 248-273-4092, or via email, pr@sae.org.

Source: SAE International