Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo

Race car goes through its paces

30 November 2005

A team of mechanical engineering students from the Clayton campus have designed and built a Formula One-style car to compete in a national race.

Front, from left: Jarrod Hammond, Scott Randall and James Woolcock. Standing, from left: David Jennings and David Campbell.

Students unveiled the vehicle, which can go from zero to 100 kilometres an hour in four seconds, on Monday 28 November.

It will be raced next month in a national event for student members of the Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia (SAE-A).

Monash team leader and fourth-year mechanical engineering student Mr James Woolcock said the Formula SAE competition provided an opportunity for engineering students to conceive, design, construct and then race small formula-style racing cars.

"The competition is run in Australia, England and the US and it gives students hands-on experience in an engineering project," he said.

The competing cars are assessed on the standard of design, cost-effectiveness and production feasibility. They are also assessed on acceleration performance, fuel economy, lap times and reliability in an endurance event.

The 2005 Formula SAE-A race will be held at Victoria University, Werribee, on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December.