I've started this thread for people to give updates on the 2005 AUS competition.

Best of luck to all!!!

I'm going to kick off this thread with a quick write up on the RMIT car I saw last wednesday at their official launch (by the way I am a unbiased opinion with no history from RMIT).

The new car looks great! The car retains the traditional colours but with a cool sprayed on graphic on the side (similar to a coke can). It is a full monocoque design (with minimal steel roll hoop bracing) housing the WR450 single they are so famous for. The huge plenum volume should see a bit more power and torque and the completely revised drivetrain has shed a lot of weight and it now uses a clutch pack diff that looks quite impressive! It looks as though a lot of work has gone into the aero kit that incorporates radiator side pods and undertray and diffuser.

I think that the 2005 RMIT car is best described as a superior evolution of the 2004 car with a big advance in weight reduction! I look forward to seeing the official number because from what I have heard, it is going to be quite low! I'm fairly sure they will be a strong contender at this years Australasian Comp.

RMIT, post some pictures for everyone to see!

Cheers
-Ben
(former) UWA Motorsport

So give us an update Frank!

How is UQ looking?
When do you get down here?

Monash will bring our fastest car yet by far.
Have been out testing a fair bit and dealing with all the usual problems... still looking good though.

Saw Swinny at Calder and they looked quick. Specially on the tight stuff. When you going to let the cat out of the bag Colin? Talked to UOA and they were out there Monday, havent seen the car though.

Havent heard much from the 'Gong or UWA, how are the new cars? Had much driving?

Scott,
Care to comment on the Monash drivetrain? It's confusing from the pictures but very intriguing. Are the wings in storage for now?

Its a double reduction.

The final drive ratios and large sprocket size used by most teams limits the amount of wheel base you can cut out of the rear of the car.

The double reduction allows us to pull the rear axle centre line 100mm closer to the engine for a short wheelbase car without having to push the driver and weight distribution too far forward.

While we were at it we got rid of all the rear chassis altogether by sweeping the wishbones and toe link forward. Rear shocks are mounted to our structural (and low profile) sump.

Radiator now hangs off the back of the car as sidepods dont get any flow due to the front wing.

The new wings are certainly not in storage... its a shame you guys didnt get to see them in action last year. They work alright judging by the pile of broken wheel centres that im staring at.

scott, i have been speaking to jarrod about your teams intentions for FS2006, any idea if you lot are going to come over again? was a pleasure to host you last time!

good luck to all the teams competing this weekend!

Will see how this weekend goes first.

Would love to go back but it seems a little unlikely at this stage.

Good luck to all concerned!

Cheers,

howdy,
anybody have pictures from FSAE-A ?
i'm anctious to see the new cars and some different concepts


Jude Berthault
ETS FSAE
Steering System Leader
Brake System R&D

Scruteneering seemed to go quite slowly this year... I dont think many teams managed to finish it today, we were waiting at the practice track when it closed,

For cost event I belive it went the international indian team (sorry guys forgot name) RMIT then us. The rainy weather and rainy forcasts look like it could result in a wet weekend.

-Mike

So.....

How's the competition going?
Haven't seen much in the way of updates.

OK, some quick notes.

Design finals - UWA, UoW, Swinburne, RMIT, Tokyo Denki, Deakin - of those teams, three singles, three 600/4's.

Autocross - First UoW, second UWA, third Queensland, fourth RMIT, fifth Tokyo Denki. Tonkyo Denki and Newcastle both hit the wall in Autocross, don't know about Newcastle but Tokyo Denki were up all night fixing their car at RMIT. Seems fine now. Track was very fast at some points.

Presentation - RMIT / UWA equal first, Auckland third.

Cost - first place to the Indian team, 96/100. Great score. Can't remember who else, sorry.

Will post more later.

Cheers!

Geoff,

Thanks for the update.

What about Skidpan and Acceleration?

Kev

Pictures??

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin Hayward:
What about Skidpan and Acceleration?

I know us 'mericans have screwed up the english language more than anyone, but this one has never made sense to me. What's the reasoning/origin behind the 'n' instead of a 'd'?

Skidpad just sounds correct. Everytime I read/hear the word skidpan, its like someone is running their nails down a chalkboard.

Launch pad, heli pad, lilly pad, ...skidpad.

And yes, lets see some pictures!

That is all.

EDIT: hehe, check this out...

http://www.100megsfree4.com/dictionary/car-dics.htm#Skidpad

quote:

skidpan: British term for skidpad

Sorry Dan,

Bad habit of mine. I agree with the Skidpad but nearly always type it or say it skidpan. Just about as often as I mis-spell accellleration.

Cheers,

Kev

quote:

Originally posted by Dan G:
Launch pad, heli pad, lilly pad, ...skidpad.

Hmmm, from various dictionaries;

claypan, saltpan; n. a shallow basin, usually in a desert region...

Great for doing donuts (err, doughnuts???) in!

I egree - inglish iz a buga tu lurn.

And, yes, more pictures!!!

Z

I heard that UWA has won the Australian comp.

I'm not 100% clear on all the details and hope someone will post soon. From what I did hear Queensland came second and Deakin 3rd.

My congrats go to the current group of UWA students. Great job!

Seems as though I had to leave before they could win

I hope that there is a chance they will come up to the US again.

You guys rock!!!

Kev

Kev no need to apologize, its a 'culture' thing.

And congrats to your alma if those unofficial results hold true. It doesn't sound unlikely from the individual results you guys have on your website:

http://www.motorsport.uwa.edu.au/

Design Finals
1st in Presentation
3rd in Cost
1st in Autocross
2nd in Skidpan
2nd in Acceleration

Assuming you guys finished Endurance today (probably very high) then yea, 1st Overall sounds about right.

BTW, your website is outstanding. Very professional.

Hi Kev!

Well done to the UWA boys.

I heard from Angus (fac advisor) that the team won Endurance and Design.

Apparently during the first enduro run Wollongong and RMIT both went out, RMIT to a crash and Wollongong to a failure. They were the closest cars to UWA overall.

And during the second run, UWA was stuck in third gear but still managed to be about 4s faster a lap than anyone else. Angus might have been exagerrating mind you.

Sorry that I don't know the details of any other teams, I'm sure there'll be a more comprehensive update shortly.

Well done to the UWAM boys and to everyone else in the competition. I know how much hard work went in over the last month or so getting that car finished - probably the most difficult preparation UWAM has had since I got involved.

Dave
ex UWA Motorsport
FSAE-A 2002-2003
FSAE 2004