UGM Bimasakti team launched Bimasakti (literally means Milky Way) formula car, on Tuesday (26/7), at the Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri Cultural Center. Bimasakti car is launched by the Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D., who conducted a test drive around the UGM Boulevard.
According to the plan, the car will be included in The 9th Student Formula SAE of Japan 2011 competition in ECOPA (Ogasayama Sports Park) Japan on September 5 to 9 2011. In the annual formula competition for university student level, the Bimasakti team consisting of 16 students of UGM Faculty of Engineering Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering will compete against 86 other teams from Japan, Australia, Thailand, China, India, Korea, and Pakistan.
Technical coordinator of the team, Akmal Irfan Majid, said the whole Bimasakti car was made by the UGM Bimasakti team from the concept, design, to manufacturing. The assembly was performed in UGM Mechanical Engineering automotive repair shop and cost about 140 million rupiah. The car has a total length of 2.40 m, height 1.05 m, width 1.10 m, and body surface area 5 m square. The vehicle’s body is made of fiber glass with 4-6 mm thick, while the frame is made of the black steel pipe base material with 0.2% C. This car is using 13 inches diameter ring tires and the wheel base is 1.55 m. "The Bimasakti car is 90% using the materials that we assembly by ourselves, except for the engine and chains that we import from abroad," he explained. For the machine, the car use Suzuki Thunder’s 322 cc machine. With such capacity, the car could run with a maximum speed of 160 km / hour.
After the test drive, the Bimasakti car driver, Mohammad Audi Yusuf, said the performance and acceleration of the car are in accordance with the desired target. However, in the future the steering system will be developed. "Currently, the steering system in use is not steering system of a race car, but instead the system that is used in general cars which have a fairly large radius turn. In the future there will be a development on this steering system for maximum performance during the competition,” he explained.
During the test drive by surrounding the UGM Boulevard twice, the car can run well on the expected target. However, the car was derailed when passing through the sandy road and crashed into the portal. "Because it was not tested in the standard track/racing track, the car once slipped as it passed through the sandy road. The front part is slightly damaged, it is dent, but it does not affect to the vehicle performance much," the Bimasakti team coordinator supervisor, Dr. Fauzun, said.
UGM Rector on the occasion wished the team to be able to demonstrate their peak ability of in the upcoming formula car competition. "This is a historic moment because it is the first time for UGM to participate in this competition representing Indonesia. Hopefully, Bimasakti team can promotes the name of UGM and Indonesia in the international arena," he said.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor of Yogyakarta (DIY), Paku Alam IX, in a speech read by Head of Education, Youth, and Sports Office (Disdikpora) of Yogyakarta, Baskoro Aji, expresses his pride to the nation's next generation, especially the Bimasakti team, which has brought the name of Yogyakarta and Indonesia into foreign education. "Hopefully, in this prestigious competition the team can compete well and promote the name of Indonesia in the eyes of the world," he said. Paku Alam IX added that this work is expected to increase the competence and dedication in building automotive industry in Indonesia.