13 December 2007
Hundreds of revved-up engineering students from across Australia and Asia will press the pedal to the metal at Victoria University's Werribee campus December 13 - 16 as they compete in scaled-down high-performance racing cars they have designed, built, and will drive themselves.
The Formula SAE - or Society of Automotive Engineers -- has become the highlight on the calendar for university engineering students since it was launched in the US in 1980, and in Australasia in 2000. Its aim is to test the skills of up-and-coming engineers on an international stage, with the winners competing at the world championships in the United States next May.
Twenty-three teams from Australia's leading universities, and from as far away as Japan and New Zealand, will impress judges with the endurance, performance, speed, engineering design, and cost of the formula-style vehicles they have been working on for up to
a year. Even the Australian Defence Force will send a car from Canberra, developed by students from its aeronautics department.
Ozden Turan, Associate Professor in VU's School of Architectural, Civil and Mechanical Engineering program, said the VU team of 12 fourth-year engineers has managed the entire project, including scheduling, budgeting, fund-raising, designing, sourcing equipment, building and testing the car. Vehicles can have engines of up to 80 horsepower, and reach speeds of more than 100 kilometres an hour.
Ozden said: "This is only the third year VU has entered a team, but we keep getting better. There's no reason why in a few more years, we won't be at the top."
Jayson Grant, 22, a VU mechanical engineering student, said an assignment that required students to build and test a small high-performance vehicle was invaluable for bringing theory from the classroom to the real world.
"At some universities, this is an extra-curricular project, but for us, this is an expected part of the program. You get to see how and why things work," he said.
The students also have a chance to meet recruiters from leading car manufacturers and engineering firms hoping to spot young talent, who join up to 2000 spectators each day.
VU's 20-hectare Industrial Skills Training track - normally used to instruct heavy vehicle drivers for other courses - is the venue for the event.
The Formula SAE will take place December 13 - 16, 2007 at Victoria University, Werribee Campus, Gate 4, Hoppers Lane, Werribee. Friday, cars are judged on design from 9am. On Saturday and Sunday, performance events begin at 9am.
All events are free.
Photo is available of VU students preparing their racing car.
For more information about VU's Formula SAE team or the 2007 Formula SAE- Australasia, contact Ozden Turan, Associate Professor, Victoria University, School of Architectural, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, on 9914 4014 or Dr Eren Semercigil on 9919 4009.
VU Media Contact: Ann Marie Angebrandt, Snr. Journalist
Marketing and Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 5487; mobile: 0403 556 001
