Welcome

Welcome to the home of ACME Racing at the Australian Defence Force Academy. The design and planning for the 2010 season is well underway and it looks like it's going to be an exciting year. Check out the latest newsletter within the newsletter section or maybe look at ACME Racing in action within the media section. This year is off to an exciting start already, showing off WS-09 at the Sydney Based Sea Power Exhibition allowed many of the teams sponsors and supporters a chance to see the car close up for the first time. Feedback for the team was very positive, with attendees commenting on the quality of design and construction. Following on from a strong finish to the year, the team's plan for the year is set and they are now busily designing WS-10. We hope that you check the website regularly to follow the process of the 2010 ACME Racing team, enjoy.

News & Announcements

Driver Training Commences - March 2010

Submitted by OFFCDT Alexander Burns 15 March 10

First Drives 2010
A central theme and motivator within the ACME Racing team is that team members who work hard on the project will be given an opportunity to drive the car. There are  some other keep benefits in allowing this to happen. Unlike other teams that restrict the driving of the car to a select few, ACME Racing values letting all its members drive the car. This provides valuable feedback about the driveability and ease of use of the car as well as letting the team members gain a better appreciation of what they have actually created. Keeping the FSAE competition scenario in mind, the team is aiming to produce a weekend race car for anyone to purchase and compete. The car is unlikely to sell if it is a great difficulty to drive. Having a multitude of people put the car through its paces allows the team to iron out any drivability issues and real world feedback. Moreover, there is lots of value able data that can be gained in order to change setups and design.
It was also an opportunity to see some of the team members natural driving talent displayed, making it possible to identify and further train these members.
It was an exciting day to see WS-09 shooting around the team’s training area. We look eagerly forward to the next driver training session in the near future.

ACME RACING Gets their feet wet - Sea Power Exhibition 2010

Submitted by OFFCDT Alexander Burns 01 March 10

Over the week of 27th to 29th of January the ACME Racing team was on display at the 2010 Sea Power conference and exhibition located at the Darling Harbour exhibition centre. This was the first public display of the team’s 2009 car, WS-09. The car drew large crowds investigating what a race car was doing at a Maritime convention. It was good to see that our increased efforts to awareness and branding of the team are paying off with defence and industry members alike approaching the team and saying “so this is the car I’ve heard about”.
Moreover, the Sea Power Exhibition allowed the team to go around and catch up with our sponsors and let them know where the team was, and where it was going to go over the course of the year. It is always humbling to see that busy the CEOs and managers take a couple minutes out of their schedule to have a genuine discussion with the team members about the car. Also the team was able to make some new contacts and sponsor possibilities which we hope to follow up on in the coming weeks.

ACME RACING SUCCESS - FSAE-A Competition

Submitted by Dr Warren Smith 23 January 10

Over the weekend, 10-13 December, the Australasian Formula SAE Competition was held at Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne.  The official results have not yet been published but an overall placing of 10th, 11th or 12th is expected in a field of 22 teams.  At this year’s competition we bettered our best ever placing in a couple of events with a 2nd in the presentation and 9th in the design events.  This is our second podium in our five years of participating (we recorded a 3rd in acceleration in 2005) and the first time we have broken into the top ten in design. 

We presented a car with beam axles which turned many traditionalists’ heads in FSAE. While the principle goes back to Henry Ford, our even tyre wear at the end of the endurance event was a clear testimony to the benefits we gained through its implementation.  Many thought we were brave to try but it will be interesting to see who else might follow now in our footsteps.  With further development, it is reasonable to expect we could achieve a top 6 placing in 2010.

We took a very young team to this year’s competition with the majority (75%) being 1st and 2nd year students.  They will return next year excited to build on the foundations laid in 2009.  Graduating and departing undergraduates are Evan McCloy (2009 Team Leader) and John-Paul Thorbjornsen.  We wish them well.  Post graduate students making significant contributions to the team’s success were Michael Olsen (Chief Designer) and Andrew Serchan (Chassis Constructor).  These four have left a valuable legacy.

When those close to the team saw how much work was still to be done in November, it is a credit to all of the involved students and supporting staff in SEIT that the car was finished and the students of ACME Racing had the experience of participating in the competition.  As perhaps the most complex predominately undergraduate systems realisation project in the university context, much learning and education is achieved through being a part of the team – and there is a place for all students; arts, business, science, engineering and technology!

While I have been the team’s faculty advisor since its inception, I am keen to formally grow the faculty advisor group and would welcome those interested from all disciplines across the College becoming involved.  Some have already spoken with me offering their assistance.  Perhaps interested academics could use parts of the project as examples in their own courses, be it strength of materials, vehicle dynamics, project management, databases, acoustics, thermodynamics, data analysis or leadership.

Finally, thanks must go to all of our sponsors and supporters.  We do look forward to a very productive, enjoyable and successful 2010.