Written by Angela South
FSAE-A Comp Day One
The UOW Motorsport team arrived at Calder Park at 7:00 am sharp, greeted by a lovely sunny morning. The schedule for today included EV Static, Mech Inspection, Cost Presentation and Accumulator Inspection. After unpacking the car and trailer the team worked on the body work and minor issues that had arisen before making their way to EV Static and Mechanical scrutineering.
EV Static Inspection involves a thorough inspection of the cars electrical systems to ensure that they met all the safety requirements. This process included visual inspections for hazards, grounding tests for conductive components, and verifying that all systems were secure. The team came across some issues that will still need to be fixed.
Next came the Mechanical Inspection, this is when the structural integrity of the car is rigorously assessed. This involved checks on chassis thickness, driver gear assessments, and fastener inspections to ensure everything was secure and safe. The car passed inspection, which boosted the moral of the team.
The next event was the Cost Presentation, consisting of three main parts. Cost challenge involved explaining the manufacture, from stock to final product of an assembly chosen by the judge which was the steering wheel. The team were presented with deductions in the aerodynamics and HV sections of cost report and given the opportunity to earn points back by explaining the costing. For scenario a feasibility report on marketing the car as a commercial product with key changes to the accumulator was presented.
At 3:00 pm the team had the Accumulator Inspection, this involves a detailed review of safety equipment, the charging trolley, and the accumulator itself. The team successfully passed this event.
As the day concluded we packed up and left Calder Park, happy with how the day proceeded and are ready to face the next challenges ahead.
