- QUT Motorsport
Our Graduating Members
This year, our team says goodbye to some of our longest serving members who have graduated during semester one. Their contributions to QUT Motorsport have been invaluable to the project as a whole and have ensured that a platform for learning and growth can continue for our existing team, and members who join in the future.
Read on to learn more about them, their work and experiences with QUT Motorsport.
Isaac Baldry
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical)
Role/s: 2019 Aerodynamics Lead / 2018 Project Manager/Mechanical Manager / 2017 Braking and Driveline Lead
Time in team: Five years
Isaac has been an integral part of our team for the past five years. He has contributed significantly to the mechanical, electrical and business teams, as well as worked to produce long-term documentation standards and processes. As Aerodynamics Lead in 2019, he designed the team's first ever aero package that was fitted to our 2019 electric race car, QEV-2. Isaac has also worked to coordinate all track testing days over the past three years and delivered a series of weekly tech-talks to help build up the engineering knowledge of the team. He has provided incoming members with the knowledge necessary to establish themselves quickly and optimise their time to gain as much understanding and experience as possible. His passion and commitment to QUT Motorsport is an inspiration to all of the team and his presence will be greatly missed.
"My five years in the team have meant more to me in terms of knowledge gained and meaningful achievements than my entire degree. The amount I have learnt and grown over my five years, is a credit to the opportunity that being a part of a project and team like this provides. Our team went through some seriously tough times in recent years. What makes me proudest is that we never gave up and worked our absolute hardest to get through it. That alone makes the small wins and the direction the team is headed now, that much sweeter. Working with such amazing people through the highs and lows has been an incredible, character building experience and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I will miss being a part of the journey, but I'm very excited to see what's in store in the future!
Austin Burey
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical)
Role/s: 2019 & 2020 Mechanical Manager
Time in team: Four years
Austin has headed-up our mechanical sub-team over the past few years; managing all leads and ensuring deadlines, documentation requirements and design specifications are met. Austin contributed heavily to restoring our 2012 car "Ozanne" back to running order, as well as the design of the 2019 and 2020 accumulators. His attention to detail on managing our master CAD assembly and guiding all new mechanical designs in the right direction has been impressive. It will really shape the design legacy of our cars for years to come. He has also been instrumental in forging a pathway for new members and his in-depth knowledge of our team, cars and systems have been crucial to developing a strong team culture.
"When I first joined the team, I was looking for a place where I could have the opportunity to meet like minded people who had similar interests to me. Looking back over the last four years, I got so much more than I ever could've bargained for. The experiences that the team and competition have exposed me to went hand in hand with what I was learning and provided a way to apply the theoretical concepts taught in the classroom to something practical you can really get hands on with. The countless hours spent putting cars together, the shenanigans before/ during comp, and the never ending arguments over what designs we should include on the car are all memories I will forever cherish. The people I've met and the memories I've made whilst in the team is what truly made my time at university unforgettable."
Michael Hanau
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical)
Role/s: 2019 Media Coordinator / 2020 Workshop & Manufacturing Lead
Time in team: Two years
Michael’s contribution has spanned across mechanical work all the way through to media. As 2019 Digital Media Coordinator he was key in establishing a professional and engaging feed that led to a significant following increase on our Instagram and Facebook pages. His stunning photos have been used throughout our media and promotional material and have become a vital part of our branding and team identity. He has also been a pivotal member of our mechanical team working on tasks such as the pedals, coordinating our workshop and managing manufacturing logistics. All of which are crucial to the completion of our race cars. The time he has committed to up-skilling new members and his dedication to our team as a whole has been greatly valued over the last few years.
"My two years in the QUT Motorsport team has taught me so much more about engineering and teamwork than any degree ever could. As they say you learn from your mistakes, and boy we've made our fair share. Working on a real project and seeing parts you designed actually get manufactured and tested is definitely the most fulfilling experience an engineer can have. That's why I love being part of the team and spending more time than I should on the project, the passion for the practical engineering. The major benefit of this passion is getting to work with equally passionate and dedicated students. The connections I've made within the team and university will be lasting ones."
Nicholas Mangan
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical)
Role/s: 2020 Autonomous Lead
Time in team: Two years
Nick has been vital in laying the groundwork for our new Autonomous team. His contributions to our software development have allowed us to establish the essential methods in autonomous design that our team will take into the future. He has also made ground breaking early progress on the Autonomous vehicle simulation platform in his short time in the role. His skills and expertise in the area have contributed to the formation of a substantial sub-team within QUT Motorsport who have been working on advanced solutions in autonomous driving systems. This team will benefit from his pioneering work for years to come. Nick's bubbly and charismatic presence in the team will be missed.
"QUT Motorsport really gave me the room to innovate and create unique solutions to some difficult problems. Building an electric race car isn’t an easy task, especially when you’re a low voltage team. You add in the challenge of making that vehicle autonomous, and you have a lot of tricky problems to solve. Being a part of QUT Motorsport I’ve been able to work with a good team of other students, with the help of QUT faculty, to identify problems in a driverless race car system, and create solutions to solve these problems. I’ve had to draw on my education at QUT numerous times to help me come up with my solutions in the pursuit of low-cost driverless system. Being able to tap into high class knowledge from university staff has also been a massive help in identifying issues with my work, which I can then learn from and fix. It’s always a lot of fun and being able to show something you have made yourself is a good feeling. Knowing you’re contributing to an exciting and cutting-edge team makes it all the better. You make a fantastic group of friends, all of whom are striving to reach the same goal you are. I’ll certainly miss the atmosphere, and highly recommend anyone get involved in any way possible."
As a team, we can't wait to see what these talented individuals accomplish as they begin their careers! In particular, during these uncertain times, their dedication has been immeasurable and has lead to so many developments that may not have taken place without them and their endless commitment to this team.
Photos by: Michael Hanau, Mike Hinz Photography & Alison Powell.
Alison Powell
Media Coordinator