Product category:
Design and Development Consultancy
News Release from: Bertrandt UK
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 01 September 2003
Strong showing for soapbox racer
In baking hot sunshine, Bertrandt UK put in a truly scorching performance in the high-profile Goodwood Festival of Speed "Soapbox Challenge".
In baking hot sunshine, Bertrandt UK put in a truly scorching performance in the high-profile Goodwood Festival of Speed "Soapbox Challenge" Over three days of racing from 11th to 13th July the company's unpowered, streamlined soapbox driven by racing legend Barry Lee hit a blistering 70mile/h down the famous Goodwood hill, cornered at over 36mile/h and beat teams from the likes of Ford, Porsche and Honda
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 17 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Software boosts composites expertise
Bertrandt UK has become one of the first companies in the country to use the ground-breaking MSC Laminate Modeller software.
Industrial designers with an impressive skill base
Designsolutions currently comprises a team of six industrial designers with an impressive skill base and vision that is already proving very attractive to a variety of clients
Only Lotus, which took first place, AVD Winchester and Bugatti were able to beat them in the roadster class.
Many of the teams had entered before and spent most of the year designing their vehicles, but this was not only Bertrandt UK's first ever entry, but the decision to develop and race a soapbox had been made only nine weeks before the race.
Project manager, CAE David Roche, who led the development, said: "It was a great honour to take part in such a fantastic event - the team felt truly privileged.
Further reading
Designers shortlisted at plastics awards
AME Productdevelopmentsolutions was short listed as one of six finalists from over 70 applicants in the Product Design of the Year category at this year's prestigious PIA Awards
New Business Development Manager for design team
AME Productdevelopmentsolutions is now preparing for future growth by employing a new Business Development Manager for the Designsolutions team, Andy Barnett
The weekend seemed was hard work and stressful at times, but our team was equal to the challenge.
The high calibre of our engineers and sponsors allowed us to be instantly competitive, and we learnt much about our car - next year we will be much faster." He had led a team using high performance materials sourced from across Europe and the USA.
With the help of sponsors Advanced Composites Group, SPA Composites, H Eccles Patterns and MSC Software the company had just nine concentrated weeks to design, construct and test its streamlined unpowered vehicle before taking up their place on the starting line.
First, the design space was defined using a CAD model of the driver, hod-rod, rallycross and truck racing legend Barry Lee, in his driving position.
Next, the structure was designed to minimise weight and maximise stiffness.
MSC Nastran software and Patran's Laminate modeller were used - producing a vehicle body weighing less than 15kg with a torsional stiffness of greater than 40kNm/deg.
MSC software was again used to develop the suspension.
A digital model of the Goodwood Hill and of the car helped predict the correct wheelbase, track, camber, castor and toe settings.
Hydraulic disc brakes and magnesium alloy wheels sourced from the USA were included for maximum performance.
Advanced Composites provided the high-performance carbon fibre pre-preg material, H Eccles Patterns cut the three specialist moulds needed to form the body shape, SPA Composites was responsible for the manufacture, and pressurised curing process.
The three parts were then assembled using a tough bonding process and cured for a further 20 hours to finish.
Finally the suspension, steering and braking components were added with specially produced ceramic wheel bearings coming from mountain bike specialists SKF and dual compound rubber tires capable of 120lb/in2 from Germany.
Barry Lee, who performed magnificently behind the wheel was the final "magic" touch.
• Bertrandt UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
