Written by Mark mcalary
Track Day 07 March 2024
The UOW Motorsport team started bright, early, and full of anticipation to get onto the track at Sydney Motorsport Park. With the objective of the day being the second testing session to master the motor controllers of Billie.
The day started with the unloading of our 2023 car, Billie, alongside a meeting with Makita who graciously supplied us with a selection of top-notch tools for the day – as an added bonus we even got some very fashionable bucket hats.
Then initial testing of Billie started with an acceleration run at 50 N.m (newton meters), a measure of torque that quantifies the power output of the car. These runs are critical for establishing and setting a baseline expectation for the day and ensuring Billie isn’t experiencing any mechanical or electrical issues.
As the day progressed, the confidence in Billie’s stability grew, we ambitiously pushed her limits, increasing the power continuously. Until we ramped Billie above 60 N.m which unfortunately led to an unexpected issue, the team were unable to recitfy the issue on-site. Despite the minor setback, the team continued on. We opted to continue testing at a lower torque setting, transitioning seamlessly into autocross and endurance runs.
Our more experienced drivers clocked impressive average times, and our novice drivers not far behind. Providing opportunities for team members to drive our cars is an example of the inclusive spirit at UOW Motorsport with drivers of all levels being given a chance to have a go.
Reflecting on the days success, our team has continued to fine-tune and improve Billie, as well as scouting out potential drivers for the 2024 FSAE-A competition in December.
Here’s to many more successful track days ahead!
