Queensland is renowned for many things - pristine coastlines (littered with beaches to die for), a climate that screams of tropical perfection and an atmosphere that makes the average sloth look like a high-speed action-seeking hero. As if that weren’t enough, the state can boast of another undeniable drawcard to be proud of.

But it’s far from sand, surf and sunnies.

It’s a Formula SAE team.

Nestled within the heart of the city of Brisbane, settling in between its famous river and bountiful parklands, is the Queensland University of Technology. Whilst the cluster of ornate buildings and blend of history versus technology stand loudly and proudly against the backdrop of arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it’s the small workshop underneath the discrete setting of the Civil Engineering block where QUT’s giant-killing Formula SAE team work their magic.

As far as experienced Formula SAE teams go, QUT’s version are only puppies - having been founded in 2003 after much heated discussion and enthusiastic planning, the team’s first car was constructed in time for the 2004 Formula SAE-Australasia competition. Since then, the team has built just 4 more machines, each a logical and progressive evolution of the last.

That is, except for the latest QUT challenger. Whilst logic certainly hasn’t deserted the clever clogs within the Engineering faculty, the university’s 2009 machine could only be classed as a revolution. With every system on the car undergoing a complete ground-up overhaul, the latest incarnation has a grand total of zero percent carryover parts to display - a testament to the mighty efforts of the car’s design team.

 

For 2009 the design philosophy was the same as in previous years - reliability is paramount, and although QUT’s young team are still climbing the ladder of engineering prowess, they’re laying the foundations for a reliable car before perfecting the package, and therefore the speed that they all know they have. In addition to that, QUT’s design vision is beyond just the one-hit Formula SAE competition, and the team’s goal to create a simple, lightweight and effective competition vehicle extends its use to the wider motorsport-based public, who could effectively use the QUT machine for hillclimbs and other sprint events. 

 

One of the aspects that proved a hit with the sharp-eyed engineers among the other SAE teams was the revolutionary 3-spring design incorporated in the latest QUT “Ozanne” car (named after a team member who so tragically lost his life as the car went into its final construction stages). This spring set up was in place to solve the problem of dive and squat when the car accelerated or braked - whilst the two outside springs in the cluster independently took care of the forces from each wheel, the centre spring compressed when the forces from both wheels took hold simultaneously, stopping undesirable chassis repositioning. Needless to say, the brainchild of the idea was rather pleased with his efforts. A feat just as impressive as the trick suspension is what’s holding it to the rear of the car; a fully machined aluminium rear end groups the spool, sprocket, braking apparatus and rear suspension components together in one piece of engineering marvel. All this was designed using Solidworks underpinnings, with Ansys, Adams and AVL analysis tools giving the figures. 

The design overhaul evidently caused some dramas - the car was only just together in time for the 2008 edition of the Formula SAE-A championships after several setbacks, and despite a never-say-die attitude jettisoning the untested car through most rounds of scrutineering, the car’s rear brakes developed a problem, and as such, failed to lock for the brake test. The electronic paddle-shift gave eternal trouble, and was only truly perfected just in time for the 2009 competition. Despite facing incredible odds, the team’s 20-strong competition never put down their tools. 

The said 20-odd competition team members are the prime movers and shakers in a 50-or-so team of highly dedicated QUT students, from all walks of university life - aside from the engineers who form the staple diet of any Formula SAE team, QUT’s sprightly bunch are a combination of business, electrical, finance, journalism, PR and photography students. On top of this, QUT’s second-to-none faculty and university staff have provided unwavering and unmatched support, with academic advisors and staff members alike passionate about making the most of QUT’s exceptional team.

With the engineers taking care of building the car (with the occasional foray into the guild bar for a few ‘meetings’), the business students proudly develop the team’s publicity and media interests. Like any professional race team, QUT are gratuitously proficient at making sure the team’s image and professional relationships are kept at their highest possible level. Sponsor/team events are not uncommon, and the team’s top business brass spread the word at many of the major events in Queensland, including the Gold Coast Indycar round, and the Queensland 500 V8 Supercar round. If not for the efforts of the business gurus, partnerships with such quality supporters such as Mazda, Laser Central and Parsons Brinckerhoff would never have been formed.

The business team take their job every bit as seriously as the guys that build the car, and as the editor of the team’s “OnTrack” news release, none can be in a more savvy position than yours truly. Throw in the fact that the business, engineering and design teams all work together in almost seamless harmony, and you have one fancy little racing team.

Even the drivers are considered seriously - the team’s latest initiative has been a driver development program, where go-karting trials are held and the best and most promising QUT student candidates are selected for proper honing and refined training, to make the most of our home-grown talent. 

The direction for QUT’s revelers is onwards and upwards - with the 2010 car already getting its skeleton tacked together (the chassis and suspension are completed, and assembly has begun), preparation for the upcoming Formula SAE season has never been better. After 2009’s impressive personal best results at the Formula SAE-A competition - where the team collected a creditable fourth place in the autocross event, a phenomenal second place in the prestigious endurance event, and placing fourth overall for the competition - 2010‘s goal is to move even further in to the dizzying heights of the Formula SAE stratosphere. Being so privileged as to be on the inside of this impressive operation, I’m fascinated and excited to see the calm before the storm. All this, and I even get to be so lucky as to be lead driver for the team for a third year running.

2010, the best yet? You better believe it.

 

 

 

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