ADF the winner

Speed: CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy in the racing car. Photo by David Paterson

A TEAM of midshipmen and officer cadets from ADFA are showcasing their skills in an international formulastyle racing competition.

Each year the Society of Automotive Engineers runs the Formula SAE competition that encourages students from universities around the world to design, fabricate and compete with small formula–style racing cars.

The ADFA Engineering Excellence team made its competition debut in December 2004 in Victoria where it competed against 22 other teams representing three continents.

The ADFA team participated in all associated events, both static and dynamic, from marketing, costing and design reports through acceleration and skid pan performance to the endurance and fuel economy events. The team did particularly well in the skid pan event where they finished seventh. The team placed 13th in the acceleration test and 19th overall.

In 2005, the team is hoping to develop their presentation skills, facilitate improved driver training and plan for a top 10 finish.