Please introduce yourself.
I’m John Dangerfield and I’m the Head Judge for the Cost and Sustainability part of Formula Student. I am pleased to have been involved with the event for 14 years so far, both competing and as a judge - it’s an addictive formula that keeps me coming back each year. There’s always something new every year that makes my jaw drop.
How has Formula Student changed?
I was part of the 2002 team from Brunel University and the difference between then and now is astounding. The standard of professionalism for teams has shot up exponentially; teams that used to formulate their strategy for design judging or cost judging on the week before Silverstone now have people who are dedicated to this area, with a lot more long term planning and steering committees involved. It’s really impressive to see.
Why is it important for teams to attend Learn To Win?
It’s a simple case of knowledge transfer. Team members who have competed in a year of Formula Student are sometimes worn out from the season’s competition or graduate without passing on the experience to the rest of the team, particularly new members.
Learn To Win gives teams the opportunity where attendees will meet those who live and breathe Formula Student all year round, who will tell you the pitfalls to avoid in testing, advice on how to complete each element of the project, provide encouragement to finish your car early and so on.
I like it when teams are so confident and so well prepared that they make it impossible for judges like me not to give them high marks and Learn To Win helps teams start to prepare for this.
What key area in your judging category is often overlooked?
The special task is often overlooked; it can be completed long in advance of the competition and if done correctly provides a healthy chunk of marks.
My advice is to come to cost judging with your evidence of how you concluded on your final designs in hand but do make sure this evidence is cost-specific. A good evidence data set will show a logical and science-based approach for choosing a particular option both from a design and a cost perspective; it will show why you went one route versus another, what benefits that gives you dynamically and the cost offset, or vice versa. Having this data as a back up to the conversations you will have in your judging session will impress the judges and show them that you know what you are talking about. This is turn will give them confidence to give you high marks.
What can teams look forward to at Learn To Win this year?
A good question!
- Brutal honesty from me and the judges
- Information on the subtle changes to the marking and feedback process
- A clear acknowledgment about the amount of work needed on the whole project and particularly the cost report
I’ve always thought that the teams that impress who are the ones that are very subtle about their approach. You don’t need to be all singing and all dancing, just show how you have used that £5,000 budget and made it stretch – it’s a great opportunity to show how smart you are with the money you have.
John will be joined by the other judges and prominent automotive experts at Learn To Win on 14 October 2016 at the Institution's London HQ. To hear advice and guidance for all areas of the competition and get essential feedback on your vehicle ahead of the competition, book your team to join Learn to Win.