Spring 2014
Design Unveil
Check out our 2014 competitor
Autosport International
See some of the photos of our visit to Birmingham NEC
Industrial Placements
Find out about our members moving on next year
Team Principal: Yavor Gegov Head Engineers: Gus Thomas Lukas Avilovas Iain Beaton Team Leaders: Matthew Corner Holly Lockhart Justas Medziausis Rokas Bortnikas Matt Levy Gani Petelov Social Media: Web: ugracing.co.uk Facebook: fb.me/UGRacingFSAE Twitter: twitter.com/UGRacing_fsae Contact: contact@ugracing.co.uk Adress UGRacing Formula Student James Watt South Bldg University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QQ ŠUGRacing Newsletter, 2014 All Rigths Reserved
Editorial Thank you to our generous sponsors who have made this possible The UGR 2014 vehicle is well on its way, with the design complete, engine fully running, and parts being machined.
In 2013, the majority of UGRacing graduated, leaving several roles to fill within the team. Following a large recruitment drive, two new teams (Class 1 and Class 2) were formed to bring designs to the competition. Despite having little experience and a number of unexpected issues, both teams were successful in the 2013 event and have entered the 2014 design with the same enthusiasm and determination.
complete their design for this year with the support of older team members.
This year we are again entering a Class 1 and Class 2 (design only entry) as part of our strategy to allow as large a number as possible of engineering and business students to join the team, ensuring there are always fresh recruits coming in and knowledge is transferred over the years.
Yavor Gegov / Team Principal
Work on the 2014 car began immediately after the 2013 event and the team is making good progress with manufacturing; currently the engine is fully running and parts are being machined. The new Class 2 team is also working hard to
UGRacing is enabling many determined and capable young engineers to pursue their desired careers. However, this would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and, for this, we would like to extend our thanks.
Design unveil
Meet our 2014 challenger UGR14 UGR 2014 is the spiritual successor to the 2013 car with one major difference; more power! The change to the vehicle concept was brought about the use of the Honda CBR600rr engine. The engine is an inline 4 cylinder unit, providing high power and torque output coupled with an excellent reliability record. It also allows for a smoother running car by removing some of the vibrations inherent with the previous KTM 450cc single cylinder engine. The engine has provided the team with new challenges in both the design and manufacture of its ancillary systems. We have implemented a custom accumulator sump with a shortened sump pan to aid both the oiling system and the overall vehicle handling 4 UGRacing Newsletter
characteristics. Our designs for a 4 into 1 tuned, stainless steel exhaust and custom single throttle body for our new intake manifold have also given us a chance to further enhance the whole powertrain system performance. One major effect of the engine change was that the chassis required a total redesign to accommodate the extra size of the new unit. This gave us a chance to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the 2013 chassis and make some improvements in rigidity and manufacturability. Although now longer than last year, the frame fits more snugly around the majority of the components and the cockpit has been reorganised to provide the best and safest possible platform for our drivers
to do what they do best. However, not everything has changed. Successful parts - such as our student designed differential and our MegaSquirt engine management system - are being carried over with a few new additions from our electronics team in the form of an LED rpm strip light and a seven segment gear position indicator. We are eager to see our new challenger come to life in the next few months and will be updating you with build and testing videos as soon as possible.
Engine- Honda CBR 600 RR 2008 »» »» »» »»
4cyl, 599cc, inline, fuel injected Custom team designed and built intake and exhaust system MegaSquirt™ ECU unit Custom team designed and built wet sump with oil accumulator »» Custom single radiator unit
Drivetrain »» LSD differential, student designed and build »» Final drive : 3.538 »» Taylor-Race™ driveshaft, tripods and tulips
Suspension »» Independent, un- equal length wishbones »» Push rod actuated Kaz Tech™ Quarter Midget Shocks
Chassis »» Tubular Steel space frame »» PLASCORE™ Aluminium honey comb impact attenuator »» Tillett™ W3 seat
Electronics »» Student designed and build custom wiring loom »» Seven segment gear display »» LED RPM indicator
Bodywork »» Carbon Fibre Bodywork with panels for easy access to components »» Dzus™ fasteners for easy removal
UGRacing Newsletter 5
Car renders
Dashboard In an attempt to improve the driver experience, electronics have worked on a new simplified dashboard 
Unsprung Mass Whilst some components have been carried over from last year, an optimised suspension geometry has led to a new upright design for 2014
Powertrain - Honda CBR 600cc This year sees the return of the ever reliable Honda CBR600rr power unit in place of last year’s single cylinder KTM UGRacing Newsletter 7
Autosport International Following our visit in 2012, around ten students attended the Autosport International event in January. The event was an opportunity to speak to potential sponsors, extend our gratitude current sponsors in person and to enjoy the spectacular array of automotive technology on display. After an overnight journey from Glasgow to Birmingham, the group took the time to discuss with exhibitors their component and software packages to have a better idea of how to distribute the budget in this and future years as well as learning more about the products and services available. Aside from trade exhibitors, we were able to see some of the most fantastic vehicles: from the Formula 1 grid to the Bloodhound, the Ariel Atom to the Lotus 77, there was no shortage engineering excellence to experience. We look forward to attending again in the future. UGRacing Newsletter 9
A new website We were proud in January to unveil our new rebranded website. Thanks to the tireless effort of our team member Matthew Corner, the new website has taken an enormous leap forward, with updated visuals and content. This update is in line with the new team image, also aiming to publicly recognise individual contributions and to reflect the efforts of our sponsors. We are now available to follow on twitter, facebook and the new website is compatible with mobile devices.
Industrial Placements
We proudly produce the highest quality of engineers We pride ourselves on the incredible talent that passes through our ranks and into industry across the UK and worldwide. This year we have team members heading to companies such as Triumph Motorcycles, Dyson, Vauxhall and Rolls Royce for summer and year-long industrial placements. Formula Student has long been seen as providing a platform for the world’s best engineering talent to showcase their work at an event attended by some of the most accomplished and successful engineers from industry. It is a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to experience work in an engineering environment before entering industry. The skills obtained within Formula Student are amongst those most sought after by potential employers. In the past Formula Student has helped team members obtain jobs, and this year is no different, with several students being awarded with industrial placements. Here, we have sta12
tements from students we will be missing in the 2014/2015 season. Justas Medžiaušis - Triumph Motorcycles
“I joined the Formula Student team in 2nd year. I believe it is the best existing engineering competition for students that gives a real-world engineering experience. It is extremely useful not only for those who are passionate about motorsport, but also provides a fast track to every engineering industry. Recently, I obtained an internship in one of the leading motorcycle manufacturers in the world – Triumph Motorcycles where I will be working as a Powertrain Design Engineer. Without Formula Student I don’t think I would have been able to achieve this position. It has taught me not only technical knowledge, but skills such as effective communication, team work and commitment, all of which are key to becoming a successful engineer. “
Matthew Corner - Vauxhall
“I have been involved in Formula Student for the past two years, and in that time I have seen myself develop into a well-rounded engineer. The experience Formula Student provides is unique in that it brings all aspects of real-life engineering and business together into an intense yearly project. Unlike in industry, we have the opportunity to take our project from initial concept through to manufacturing and testing ourselves, allowing a much better understanding of all stages of a product lifecycle. I feel that the experiences and skills that I have gained from the competition have been the largest factor in me securing an industrial placement with Vauxhall next year.” Matthew Rogers - Dyson
“I’m taking a year out to work with Dyson, developing new and interesting ways of making products work better and in new
ways. The experience I have gained through Formula Student is invaluable – with the hands on approach that very few university courses offer and an exposure to proper team work, it is great preparation for working as a professional engineer. The portfolio of past and future designs is a great asset, as is the knowledge of how things work and, crucially, how they are made as well.” Holly Lockhart - Nissan
“UGRacing has provided me with the experience of applied engineering in a professional environment, which would not otherwise have been possible within university. This experience in design and manufacture has been invaluable in securing an internship, as it made me stand out as a proactive and experienced engineer and has given me a better understanding of both the technical and professional job requirements.”
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Class 2
Meet our apprentice team Perhaps unknown to some, there are in fact two teams operating under the umbrella of UGRacing. Whilst the primary team, T1, is hard at work developing and building the new car for Silverstone this summer, there is a second group of young engineers who are learning the skills required to build their own car next year. The class 2 team entry, T2, is composed entirely of freshly recruited undergraduate engineers. No previous experience is required, meaning the team members come from a wide range of engineering disciplines and all years of undergraduate study. This is the second year that UGRacing has adopted a two-tier format. With key team members graduating or leaving for work placements, we were at risk of losing the valuable experience and skills from the veteran students. The formation of our class 2 competition entry allows this knowledge to be passed down and retained. Put simply, the objective of T2 is to prepare new recruits with the attributes required to become a successful and valued member of T1. Just like the main team, T2 enters a competition at Silverstone. Run in 14 UGRacing Newsletter
unison with the main event, the class two competition requires teams to design an entire racing car and pitch to a panel of industrial judges. They too are judged on the key points of design, manufacturing, cost, and the suitability of their business case. Last year saw UGRacing place sixth in this contest. We are excited to return this July to try and improve on our results!
“…The most attractive thing about joining UGRacing is the level of involvement from start to finish. Entering our own competition allows us to put everything we learn into immediate practice. Instead of purely learning from textbooks and manuals we get to experience what works (and what doesn’t!) from actually producing our own design....” The competition aspect of class 2 forces the team members to think innovatively from an early stage. This is a priceless skill not just for UGRacing but also for the engineering careers of those involved Entering a design only competition gives T2 a bit more creative freedom than the T1 group. We are not constrained by having by having to design a car which fits within a strict budget. This year the
team has opted for a ‘sidewinder’ style chassis. Essentially this means that the engine and driver are packaged side by side rather than in-line. This gives the opportunity to have a more rearward mass distribution and greater freedom on the wheelbase length. These features provide some interesting technical challenges and solutions with which we hope to impress the competition judges. We are confident that our unique design will generate interest and stand out from the rest of the competition. Like many new challenges, sometimes promising development can lead to a dead end. The answer to one question usually leads to the formation of several new ones. Sometimes the only way to move forward is to take a step back and look at the big picture. It is at times like these that the established team member can step in and offer advice and support to help keep things moving. Currently the members from T2 are not only working on their 2014 challenger but are also helping with the early stages of next year’s car.
Sidewinder chassis In a sidewinder, the engine is packaged to one side of the driver, rather than behind them. When designed well, the mass distribution of the car can be more rearward based and the wheelbase length can be decreased.
Below A sidewinder formula student car from Deakin University in Australia.
UGRacing Newsletter 15