2015 FSAE-Australasia

[Z]

(Note - Following posts may be edited over next few days as more accurate information becomes available.)

The CONTENDERS.
==================

A tough call this year, but three of these Teams will be on the Overall podium on Sunday night.

#66 - MONASH UNIVERSITY (Vic, Oz).
==============================
MASS - 48%R (with driver), ~200 kg (dry).
WHEELS & TYRES - F&R -10" x 7.5" tyres on 8" Al-Rims, Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - E85.
ENGINE - 1-cylinder, KTM EXC, 500cc, Titanium(!)-Turbo (no I/Cooler), CR=11.8:1, 42 kW @ 7.5 krpm.
DRIVETRAIN - Pneumatic-only-shifter, 6-spd-g'box, Drexler-diff.
CHASSIS - Mild-Steel-spaceframe with bonded CF-panels.
SUSPENSION - F&R = CroMo-DW+ pushrod/rockers driving soft-warp/mode-separated springing (more details later...).
UPRIGHTS - F = 3D-printed-Titanium, R = Machined-Aluminium.
AERO - F&R-U/S-Wings + sprung-UnderTray (~45% total downforce from UT) + some sidepod aero.
TESTING - Running for 5 months, 4 months with aero, 600+ kms!

IN A NUTSHELL - The juggernaut rolls on. Outright 1st place in Oz-2009, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14. This year some stuff added, some weight lost, and testing for ages. So deserved favourites for outright victory again. But will one of the many "hi-tech extras" break...? (Stop press: Mch-Al rear Uprights because the 3-d printed Titanium ones ... broke!)
~o0o~

#7 - EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY (WA, Oz).
=================================
MASS - 56%R, 180 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 10" x 6" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - Custom 4-cylinder (CBR head on bespoke block), 600 cc, N-A, CR=12:1, 65 kW @ 10.4krpm.
DRV - Mech-shift to custom 2-speed-box + spool-diff (all integrated in custom engine cases).
CHAS - Carbon skinned aluminium honeycomb (~30 mm thk), cut-and-fold construction, full monocoque.
SUSP - F = CroMo-DW+DASD , R = CroMo-folded-sheet-Beam+4-link+DASD .
UPRT - F = folded-steel (0.9 mm), R = Al-brng-housing bolted to beam.
AERO - F&R&Side-sprung-wings, NO undertray.
TEST - Running 3 months, 500++ kms

IN A NUTSHELL - Close 2nd place last year, more fully developed this year. Smaller Team than Monash, but well focussed. Quote - "... fast in testing..."
~o0o~

#47 - UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND (NZ).
================================
MASS - 60%R, 162 kg.
W&Ts - 10" x F=6"/R=7.5" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 1-cyl, Yamaha WR450F, 450cc, N-A, CR=13.1:1, 41 kW @ 9.5 krpm.
DRV - Elec-solenoid-shift, 5-spd, Drexler.
CHAS - Full pre-preg "3/4 CF-tub" + very small steel-tube rear engine-mount frame.
SUSP - F = CroMo-DW+DASD, R = folded-steel-Beam+4-link+DASD.
UPRT - F&R = mch-Al.
AERO - Small undertray only.
TEST - Running 6 weeks, 8 hrs testing, but newish drivers.

IN A NUTSHELL - In some ways this car is better than last year's small and simple car, which had NO aero and came a close 3rd. If only they fitted a MUCH BIGGER UNDERTRAY this year ... WOW!!! (Hint to Auckland - "borrow" Monash's UT!) (Stop Press: A much bigger UT was designed, but some glitches...)
~o0o~

#13 - UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY (NZ).
===========================================
MASS - 52%R, ~195 kg.
W&Ts - F&R = 10" x 7.5" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - E85.
ENG - 1-cyl, Husqvarna TC449, 450 cc, turbo + intercooler, CR=13:1, 42 kW @ 9.5 krpm.
DRV - Pneumatic-shifter, 5-spd, Drexler.
CHAS - Full CF-tub.
SUSP - F&R = CF-DW + pullrods + ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = mch-Al.
AERO - F&R-sprung-wings, NO undertray.
TEST - Running 5 months and mega-kms!

IN A NUTSHELL - Only a 3rd year Team, but very well-built cars last two years. The grapevine has it that this car is VERY quick!
~o0o~

#41, UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND (Q, Oz).
===================================
MASS - 60%R, 205 kg.
W&Ts - 10" x F = 6", R = 7.5" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Yamaha R6, 600cc, N-A, CR=12.8:1, 61 kW @14 krpm.
DRV - Cable-shift, 6-spd, short triplex-chain to spool-diff.
CHAS - Folded-aluminium-sandwich front-tub (20 mm thk + ~1 mm skins)+ simple rear-spaceframe.
SUSP - F = DW+DASD, R = tubular-steel-beam (60 mm dia x 1.6mm wall) + 4-link + DASD.
UPRT - F&R = mch-Al.
AERO - F&R-sprung-wings + UT.
TEST - Running 3+ months, "only" 450 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Started this year aiming for a simple and quick build. By mid-year were driving a very capable car that was ~30+ kg lighter than previous car. Lots of testing since then, so ... should go well!
~o0o~

#69 - UNIVERSITY of MISSOURI (USA).
=================================
MASS - 54%R, 210 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Honda CBR, 600 cc, N-A, CR=?, ??kW @ 9 krpm.
DRV - Cable-shift, 6-spd, Taylor Race "Quaife" style LSD.
CHAS - CroMo spaceframe.
SUSP - F&R = DW + pushrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = mch-Al.
AERO - F&R-Wings, no UT.
TEST - Running 9 months, ~200 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Top-5 in most recent 2015-USA-Lincoln comp (considerable improvement over earlier Michigan comp from "... better set-up"). Plus another six months to get even better. But do they realise that, when racing Down-under, all their settings must be upside-down?
~o0o~

#101 - UNIVERSITY of MELBOURNE (Vic, Oz).
====================================
MASS - 52%R, 235 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 10" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - E85.
ENG - 4-cyl, Honda CBR, 600 cc, N-A, ????.
DRV - Pneumatic-shft (+cable), 6-spd, Drexler.
CHAS - ??-SF.
SUSP - F = DW+pullrod, R = DW+pushrod, + 2 x ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = Mchn-Al.
AERO - F&R-wings (R=U/S) + UnderTray.
TEST - Running 2.5 months, ~400 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - This Team usually does well. This car is good on paper, and WELL TESTED.
~o0o~

(More coming...)

Z

[Z]

The PRETENDERS.
=================

These 10 Teams have a chance of podiums in one or two individual events, but unlikely to podium Overall?

Listed by order of Team numbers only.

#03 - UNIVERSITY of NEWCASTLE (NSW, Oz).
====================================
MASS - 55%R, 215 kg.
W&Ts - F&R- 13" x 7.5" R25B.
FUEL - E85.
ENG - 4-cyl, Honda CBR, 600 cc, N-A, CR=12:1, 60 kW @ 10 krpm.
DRV - Elec-solenoid-shift, 6-spd, spool.
CHAS - Mild-steel-SF.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = folded-sheet-steel (~1 mm).
AERO - F&R-sprung-wings, no UT.
TEST - Running 2 weeks, ~30 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Conventional spaceframe-four + wings.
~o0o~

#8 - UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE (SA, Oz).
================================
MASS - 52%R, 235 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Yamaha YZF-R6, 600cc, N-A, CR=12.4:1, 58 kW @ 12.1 krpm.
DRV - Mch-shift, 6-spd, Drexler.
CHAS - Mild-steel spaceframe.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrods, + one ARB.
UPRT - F&R = mch-Al, same on all corners.
AERO - F&R-sprung-wings, + UT.
TEST - Running 2 months, but only 50 kms testing.

IN A NUTSHELL - Have fitted strain-gauges to all suspension links (24x). So should have lots of VD data for next year!
~o0o~

#10 - UNIVERSITY of WOLLONGONG (NSW, Oz).
======================================
MASS - <50%R, 210 kg.
W&Ts - 13" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Honda CBR, 600cc, N-A, CR=14:1, 55 kW @ 10.5 krpm.
DRV - Mch-shft, 6-spd, spool.
CHAS - CroMo-SF + CF-panels.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pullrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = folded-steel <1 mm.
AERO - F&R-sprung-wings, no UT.
TEST - Running 2 weeks, 100 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Top of the world once, but need to get hungrier, and finish earlier, if want to repeat past successes.
~o0o~

#12 - RMIT UNIVERSITY (Vic, Oz).
===========================
MASS - 54%R, 185 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 10" x 7" (x 16"OD) Avons with "FSAE compound, ~one harder than the hillclimb spec...".
FUEL - E85.
ENG - Parallel-Twin (180 degree), Yamaha Genesis 80FI, 500cc, turboed, CR=12.4:1, 65 kW @ 10 krpm.
DRV - Cbl-shft, then ... N-S engine, to bespoke 4-spd-box (from big Duke), to drop-gears, to bevel-drive-diff with KAZ-viscous-LSD, all in a stressed CF-transaxle-case.
CHAS - Full CF-tub.
SUSP - F = CF-DW+pullrods, R = CF-DW+pushrods, + 2 x ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = mch-Al.
AERO - Sidepods only.
TEST - Running 1 month, 230 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Wow! Has huge potential, but maybe too much design and not enough testing? Could be a cracker next year.
~o0o~

#14 - CURTIN UNIVERSITY (WA, Oz).
=============================
MASS - 50%R, 245 kg.
W&Ts - 13" x 6" (on 7" rims) Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Honda CBR600RR, 600 cc, N-A, CR=12.9:1, 61 kW @ 11 krpm.
DRV - Mech-shft, 6-spd, Drexler.
CHAS - CroMo-SF, no stiffening panels this year.
SUSP - F = DW+pull, R = DW+push, + 2 x ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = Mch-Al.
AERO - F&R-unsprung-wings + UT.
TEST - Only running 3 weeks, "... not enough..." kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Usually build a good solid car, but doesn't seem well enough tested this year.
~o0o~

#15 - UNSW ADFA (NSW, Oz).
=======================
MASS - 50%R, 197 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 10" x 6" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 1-cyl, KTM, 510 cc, N-A, CR=11.8:1, 20 kW @ 9.5 krpm.
DRV - Mech-shft, 6-spd, Drexler.
CHAS - CroMo-SF with FLAT FLOOR*!
SUSP - F = DW+DASD, R = Beam+4-link+DASD.
UPRT - F&R = mch-Al.
AERO - None.
TEST - Running 3 months but then several redesigns/rebuilds. 6 hrs driving.

IN A NUTSHELL - * Impressive "Split-Idler" steering-linkage (R&P just in front of hand-wheel, then vertical-axis idlers either side of FRH) that allows simple frame with flat-floor and open foot-box. Well done Michelle!
~o0o~

#22 - UNIVERSITY of SYDNEY (NSW, Oz).
================================
MASS - <50%R, 186 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - Vee-twin, Aprilia RXV, 550 cc, N-A, CR=12:1, 40 kW @ 10.5 krpm.
DRV - Cbl-shft. 5-spd, Drexler.
CHAS - Mild-Steel-SF.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrod+ARB.
UPRT - F&R = mch-Al.
AERO - None.
TEST - ~150 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Team with abundant resources, but only build one car every second year! Tsk, tsk... And still powered by the hand-grenade!
~o0o~

(More coming tomorrow morning...)

Z

[Z]

MORE PRETENDERS...
====================

(Too many to fit them all in last night...)

#25 - UNIVERSITY of WAIKATO (NZ).
==============================
MASS - 50%R, 230 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Suzuki GSR, 600 cc, N-A, CR=12.5:1, 62 kW @ 10 krpm.
DRV - Cbl-shft, 6-spd, Mazda MX5 LSD.
CHAS - Mild-steel SF.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrods, 2 x ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = Folded-steel 1.6 mm.
AERO - UnderTray only.
TEST - Running 2 weeks, 50 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Nicely finished car, but now at back of the NZ pack.
~o0o~

#44 - UNIVERSITY of TASMANIA (Tas, Oz).
=================================
MASS - ?%R, 223 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Honda CBR, 600 cc, N-A, CR=12.2:1, ? kW, @ ? krpm.
DRV - Mech-shift, 6-spd, spool.
CHAS - CroMo-SF + CF-panels.
SUSP - F = DW+pullrods, R = DW+pushrods, (no ARBs) .
UPRT - F&R = mchn-Al.
AERO - UT only.
TEST - Only 2 days testing so far.

IN A NUTSHELL - Failed noise test. Let's hope Jonny doesn't have to pull another heroic all-nighter to get it through Enduro tomorrow!
~o0o~

#63 - UNIVERSITY of NEW SOUTH WALES (NSW, Oz).
=========================================
MASS - 55%R, 167 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 10" x 6" Hoosier LCO.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - V-twin, Aprilia SXV, 550 cc, N-A, CR=12.5:1, 48 kW @ ? krpm.
DRV - Cbl-shft, 5-spd, spool.
CHAS - Al-HC, 30 mm thk x 0.5 mm skins.
SUSP - ALUMINIUM F = DW+pushrods, R = DW+pullrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = mchn-Al.
AERO - No aero.
TEST - Running 1 month, 100 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - ALL ALUMINIUM CAR. Struggled last year and powered by a hand-grenade, but has potential if well tested.
~o0o~

#111 - GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY (Qld, Oz).
=================================
MASS - 50%R, 240 kg.
W&Ts - 10" x 6"(F) + 7.5"(R) Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Honda CBR, 600 cc, N-A, CR=12:1, 50 kW @ ? krpm.
DRV - Cbl-shift, 6-spd, spool.
CHAS - Mild-steel-SF.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = mchn-Al.
AERO - None.
TEST - Running 2 weeks, 20 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - This first year Team with small number of students (~6) will surprise some of the much bigger and better established Teams.
~o0o~

(More coming...)

Z

[Z]

The TAIL-ENDERS.
=================

#02 - UNIVERSITY of WESTERN AUSTRALIA (WA, Oz).
==========================================
Not sighted yet...
~o0o~

#16 - UNIVERSITY of SOUTH AUSTRALIA (SA, Oz).
=======================================
They are here, and I will post details later (missed them on Friday).
~o0o~

#21 - TOKYO DENKI UNIVERSITY (JPN).
================================
MASS - 52%R, 165 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 10" x 6" Hoosier LCO.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 1-cyl, Honda PE06E, 450 cc, N-A, CR=12.5:1, 35 kW @ 8 krpm.
DRV - Cbl-shft, 5-spd, Drexler.
CHAS - CroMo-SF.
SUSP - F = DW+pullrod, R = DW+pushrod, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = CroMo-folded-steel, 0.8 mm.
AERO - None.
TEST - Not running yet!

IN A NUTSHELL - Very sad to see this truly inspirational Team struggling this year. When I look at globally all-conquering GFR, I see TDU + wings.
~o0o~

#28 - TAYLORS UNIVERSITY (K.L., Malaysia).
===================================
MASS - 55%R, 280 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 180 mm, Hankook C90 (soft compound for F3).
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Yamaha R6, 600 cc, N-A, CR=12.8:1, ? kW @ ? krpm.
DRV - Mech-shft, 6-spd, OPEN-diff (taken from small car).
CHAS - Mild-steel-SF.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = Mchn-Al.
AERO - None.
TEST - Running 2 weeks, 50 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Somewhat overweight conventional car, but a reasonable effort from a young Team.
~o0o~

#29 - UNIVERSITY of WESTERN SYDNEY (NSW, Oz).
=========================================
Not sighted yet.
~o0o~

#34 - JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY (N.Qld, Oz).
===================================
MASS - ?%R, 280 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - 98 RON.
ENG - 4-cyl, Honda CBR, 600 cc, N-A, CR=12.2:1, ? kW @ ? krpm.
DRV - Cbl-shft, 6-spd, Drexler.
CHAS - CroMo-SF.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = fabricated plate-steel (heavy-duty!).
AERO - None.
TEST - Still assembling car when I talked to them...

IN A NUTSHELL - Hmmm..., well, NQ + JT won the NRL this year, so HAPPY DAYS!
~o0o~

More coming...

Z

[Z]

The DEAD-ENDERS.
===================

#E09 - IIT ROORKEE (India).
======================
MASS - 54%R, 280 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 7" MRF - 2CO (an F3 tyre).
FUEL - COAL.
BAT - ~17 MEGA-JOULES * (NOT 4.8 kWh!).
MOTOR - Motenergy, 30 kW peak (12 kW cont.) @ 91 V, Kelly-controller, air-cooled.
CHAS - Mild-steel-SF.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = mchn-Al.
AERO - None.
TEST - Running 2 wks, 70 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - Have eventually found some batteries here in Oz (trouble with shipping), so hopefully we see them run.
~o0o~

#E17 - SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY (Vic, Oz).
==================================
The Swinians have imposed a media-ban on this old hack (maybe I am not supportive enough of the Coal Industry?). Ain't motorsports fun!
~o0o~

#E42 - UNIVERSITY of QUEENSLAND (Qld, Oz).
=====================================
MASS - 53%R, 255 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - Yep, more COAL.
BAT - ~28 MEGA-JOULES * (NOT 7.7 kWh!).
MOTOR - Emrax 207, 50 kW peak @ 353 V, Tritium-cntrl, ~3:1 chain-drive (to spool?), water-cooled.
CHAS - Mild-steel-SF+CF-panels (was UQ's old 2013 IC car).
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = mchn-Al.
AERO - None.
TEST - Running 1 week, 50 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - First year E-car, so they took the shortest route by re-using old C-car parts.
~o0o~

#E46 - QUEENSLAND UNIV of TECH. (Qld, Oz).
====================================
Not sighted yet.
~o0o~

#E59 - UNIVERSITY of TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY (NSW, Oz).
==============================================
MASS -50%R, 255 kg .
W&Ts - F&R - 13" x 7" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - Petrified trees from the Carboniferous era.
BAT - ~26 MEGA-JOULES * (NOT 7.2 kWh!).
MOTOR - Emrax 228, 71 kW peak (but only run to ~40 kW) @ 389 V, Unitek-cntrl, ~3:1 chain-drive (to spool?), water-cooled.
CHAS - Al-HC 25 mm thk, + small rear CroMo-SF.
SUSP - F&R = DW-DASD, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = mchn-Al.
AERO - None.
TEST - Running 2 wks, 50 kms.

IN A NUTSHELL - First year E-car, so conservative design on the E-front.
~o0o~

#E88 - RMIT UNIVERSITY (Vic, Oz).
===========================
MASS - 50%R, 255 kg.
W&Ts - F&R - 10" x 6" Hoosier R25B.
FUEL - More COAL.
BAT - ~24 MEGA-JOULES * (NOT 6.6 kWh!).
MOTOR - Emrax 228, only run to ~40 kW @ 470 V, Unitek-cntrl, 3.17:1 chain-drive to Drexler, water-cooled.
CHAS - Cro-Mo-SF.
SUSP - F&R = DW+pushrods, no ARBs.
UPRT - F&R = mchn-Al.
AERO - None.
TEST - Running 3 weeks, 150 kms

IN A NUTSHELL - Winner last year, and similar car this year.
~o0o~

* Note to these Coal Industry teams:
========================
"Kilowatts" are standard units of power, and "hours" are non-standard units taken from the bus-timetable. Compounding these does not maketh a STANDARD unit of energy! The standard unit of energy (Metric system) is the "JOULE" (as in something very precious). Lots of these maketh "MEGA-JOULES", or MJs (as in "really good precious things").

For reference:
One MegaJoule = One ton mass lifted to the top of a ~one hundred metre high hill (in Earth's gravitational field).
Or, 1 MJ = 1 ton mass travelling at ~100 miles per hour, because it just rolled down that 100 metre high hill.
Or, ask some "Rubenesque" women and they will tell you exactly how many MJs (ie. how much "energy") there is in any chocolate-bar or savoury-snack you care to show them. I think a smallish chocolate-bar has about 1 MJ.

More updates on today (Saturday - Accel, SP, AutoX) later tonight...

Weather is coolish (~20+C) and fine today...

Z

[Westly]

Edit: appears that the v8 supercar tyre bundles have been removed from the track - good outcome



Great coverage again Z, looking forward to the updates.

Live Stream has been fantastic - been watching it all morning.

[Boffin]

So as miss the event for the first time in 8 years, sitting in an airport in china checking Natsoft, do my eyes deceive me or do we have a new skidpad champion?
2 different ways to calculate and I see Canterbury besting Monash

[Z]

SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE - AC, SP, & AX.
===================================

Some quick notes from the Z-files.

Day started off quite cool, cloudy, and calm. Then very strong winds, and scorching sun.

As expected, many Teams "fail to proceed". At midday, end of AutoX Session 1, the first three Teams from last year, namely Monash, ECU, and Auckland, were all busted! (But they got better later...)

Unexpected is that Wollongong are back! They must have been "flying under the radar" when I spoke to them, but the car is looking very good on track, some very good times, so they are now promoted to "Contenders"!

All following times on "natsoft dot com dot au", then click on "circuit racing". But times may change due to cones, whatever...

ACCELERATION - Held early while it was still quite cool. Times are slower than last year, so it seems this track has lowish grip.
1st - ECU - again fastest time with 3.82 sec.
2nd - UQ with 3.95 - this with their worst anti-squat setting, because Team was dealing with other glitches?
3rd - Melbourne 4.26 - well tested car.
4th - Auckland 4.35 - not bad for a single.
5th - Missouri 4.39 - was expecting better.
...
10th Monash 4.68 - as above (Monash has turbo, Auckland not).
11th Canterbury 4.78 - ditto.
...
15th RMIT(C) 4.97 - kept stalling due to glitches with elect-launch-control, so no indication of how good/bad are the Avons.
~o0o~

SKID-PAD - Also held while temps were cool. SP-track is on the bumpiest part of Calder track with some biggish dips in two sections. Many aero cars scraping their front-wings or undertrays. The cars that were settled and smooth here also perfomed well in AutoX.
1st - Monash 4.89 - no surprise.
2nd - Canterbury 4.91 - same.
3rd - ECU 4.95 - same.
4th - Wollongong 5.06 - first indication that this car will surprise
5th - Auckland 5.07.
... other times all above 5.20.
~o0o~

AUTOCROSS - Wow, they're dropping like flies! Jonny's UTAS is third car out and only manages half a lap. Fortunately, it was only a brake-line hooked on bias-bar, which locked the brakes on, so easily fixed. RMIT(C) only managed 1/4 of a lap. Bespoke transaxle chewed up miscellaneous internal bits. Upside is that I got to see inside the box, and many pretty things in there. Too many pretty things...

This event held in two sessions, morning and afternoon. Morning was cooler and a lot slower. All fast times set in the second session.
1st - Monash 1:38.3 - no surprise.
2nd - Wollongong 1:38.8 - did not expect that.
3rd - Melbourne 1:39.8 - looking very smooth.
4th - Canterbury 1:40.3 - but then finished the day coughing and spluttering?
5th - Auckland 1:41.3 - might also have had problems?
6th - RMIT(E) 1:41.3 - this a real surprise (check its fairly plain specs)!
7th - ECU 1:42.3 - also ended session with problems (Team busy fixing them now).
~o0o~

Organizers announced that AutoX course was 1.2 kms long. Some Teams claimed they measured closer to 1.5 km. Times are significantly slower than last year, which was 1.2 km, so who knows?

Anyway, Enduro tomorrow is same course but run clockwise (AX was anti-CW). Sunday weather forecast is warmer than today, maybe around 30 C. Oz-comp has two Enduros, morning and afternoon.

Static-Event results are now on Facebook;
https://www.facebook.com/lists/10201073788064567

No idea on points for today's Dynamic results. But, as always, it looks like reliability and fuel-consumption will be big factors in the final placings.

Now time for zzzzz...

Z

[Rex Chan]

Just some updates on MUR as an alumni: the fastest lap in AutoX was posted on the first lap out after a driver change, so was hoping to be quicker on his 2nd lap (Dave McGahey). But we ran out of fuel.... :O Seems like an MUR habit/tradition to run out of fuel in AutoX, as my fb feed reminds me . Hopefully a leaner enduro fuel map and 22km will mean MUR actually gets to the end

Accel: more clutch control needed to drop times. I think a 4.1 should be acheivable with harder launch but always seems like the last thing a team practices, if at all.

[Adam Farabaugh]

* Note to these Coal Industry teams:
========================
"Kilowatts" are standard units of power, and "hours" are non-standard units taken from the bus-timetable. Compounding these does not maketh a STANDARD unit of energy! The standard unit of energy (Metric system) is the "JOULE" (as in something very precious).

Sure it's not standard. But earlier you said you drove 10 hours to the comp, and if you know how many kW your car puts out on a highway cruise, then it sure is useful!