Hyderabad:

Ever wanted to race like Lewis Hamilton? The very sound of the engines, vrooming in and fading like a missile, sets the adrenaline pumping. Now, imagine designing your own car and hitting the track in top gear on a racing circuit. That was exactly what 25 boys from Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology (MJCET) have done and how. Racing at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), Noida with 65 other teams in their own car, the engineering students came out with flying colours, winning the first prize at the SUPRA INDIA 2012 competition held between Sept 6 and 9 and conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers India.

The team from MJCET bagged the first prize in the marketing presentation (business plan) category winning a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 30,000. In all, 120 teams from across the country vied for honours and of them, 66 made it to the final round and of them, only 25 made it to the last leg. For the Hyderabad team, it was a new and exciting experience as they had never before reached this stage.

According to team leader, Mohammed Waseem, the self-designed vehicle was tested for three days on the track before the final race. Around 80 judges from the automobile industry inspected the vehicles for safety check, design evaluation, weight check, egress check, master switch test, noise level test, tilt test, fuel leakage test, brake test, acceleration test, skid pad test, etc. before they were allowed to participate in the final endurance event where the teams had to successfully complete four laps – a total of 22 kms. The Hyderabad team car’s engine had a 796cc Maruthi Suzuki 37 BHP engine. It crossed 110kmph at one point and maintained an average speed of 77 throughout the race.

imagine designing your own car and hitting the track in top gear on a racing circuit

The project, according to the mechanical engineering department of the college, was conceived in July 2011. Following that, the team had passed through the Virtual SUPRA competitions in January 2012 and the fabrication of vehicle started in early March this year. The team was headed by Mohd. Waseem – Captain and Ch. Abhilash – Vice Captain.

The car costs Rs 4 lakh (including engine and transmission) whereas the total cost of the project was about Rs 9.5 lakh, including the cost of car, registration, transportation and accommodation, informed officials. The team was sponsored by Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology, M/s Coastal Power Projects, Butta Group, DB Shapriya, and Reitz India Pvt. Ltd, under guidance of AS Reddy and Mohammed Viquar Mohiuddin, faculty advisors, SAEINDIA MJCET Chapter. It was also actively supported by Prof. S.Khadar Vali, Head of Mechanical Engineering Department and Dr. Basheer Ahmed, Principal MJCET

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> South> Hyderabad / IBN Hyderabad / The New Indian Express / September 17th, 2012