After the final evaluation from the judges, we waited for more than an hour. Naturally, all participants were eager to know the results. Our team was visibly confident; in fact, some members felt that victory was inevitable (a first for ETS since 1996). TU Delft finished fourth and Helsinki, third. The president of the competition then announced the second-place finisher and first runner-up... ETS. Oh no! Talk about a huge blow! You could see the disappointment on everyone's face and even tears in a few eyes. Yet, all the team applauded the winner of the design contest: TU GRAZ.
On a positive note, the judges said that "the ETS might be the car we'd prefer to drive." According to Douglas L Milliken, a renowned automotive engineering specialist, "the thing we really like about the ETS car and what everybody did is that it is the most comfortable car. In fact, one of the judges who got behind the wheel said that ETS was probably the most comfortable car he had ever sat in."
Mr. Milliken also told us that the first and second place teams were extremely close on the score sheet and it could almost have been a tie. Of course, an encouraging second place is nothing like being crowned the winner.
The end of a memorable adventure
We returned to the pits to pack our stuff and attend the awards ceremony. Jude was very proud of what ETS had accomplished this year. The team included a lot of fresh new faces, which explains a big part of that success. Unfortunately, testing had been limited over the past few months and the machine was not entirely ready to deliver optimum performance on the track. Trust me, it can be a lot faster than this. ETS students will do their darndest to improve the car in time for a late August competition in Germany.
All in all, the Detroit event was a success. As Kathleen McDonald, one of the organizers, pointed out to me: "this year went wonderfully well." Participants will cherish this experience for a long time. Personally, I learned an awful lot thanks to these young dedicated engineers. And to think they put so much time and effort into their project without getting paid!
I guess that's what passion and the will to win are all about!
photo:Philippe Champoux
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On a positive note, the judges said that "the ETS might be the car we'd prefer to drive." According to Douglas L Milliken, a renowned automotive engineering specialist, "the thing we really like about the ETS car and what everybody did is that it is the most comfortable car. In fact, one of the judges who got behind the wheel said that ETS was probably the most comfortable car he had ever sat in."
Mr. Milliken also told us that the first and second place teams were extremely close on the score sheet and it could almost have been a tie. Of course, an encouraging second place is nothing like being crowned the winner.
The end of a memorable adventure
We returned to the pits to pack our stuff and attend the awards ceremony. Jude was very proud of what ETS had accomplished this year. The team included a lot of fresh new faces, which explains a big part of that success. Unfortunately, testing had been limited over the past few months and the machine was not entirely ready to deliver optimum performance on the track. Trust me, it can be a lot faster than this. ETS students will do their darndest to improve the car in time for a late August competition in Germany.
All in all, the Detroit event was a success. As Kathleen McDonald, one of the organizers, pointed out to me: "this year went wonderfully well." Participants will cherish this experience for a long time. Personally, I learned an awful lot thanks to these young dedicated engineers. And to think they put so much time and effort into their project without getting paid!
I guess that's what passion and the will to win are all about!
photo:Philippe Champoux
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