Helix Bets Everything on “Børsen”

Every summer, Formula Student takes place, a gathering of 22 international engineering competitions across 6 continents, where more than 1,000 active teams compete to crown the best race car project. Among this year’s participants was Helix, NMBU’s own student team, which in July lined up at the legendary Silverstone Circuit in England with their newly built car, “Børsen.” But how did it really go? I sat down with Helix’s newly elected leader, Eira Bakstad, to find out more.

Journalist: Isabelle Damhaug
Translator: Henrikke Ellewsen

“It actually went incredibly well!” Eira replies with a smile when I ask about this summer’s competition. “We’re a relatively new team with big ambitions. In England, we meet teams with far more experience than us, so our main goal has been to do better than last year and we managed that by a good margin.” Last year Helix never got their engine running, but this year it worked like a charm – maybe even a little too well. One of the first technical tests is a noise measurement, where the engine cannot exceed a certain decibel limit. “We maxed out the meter at 130 decibels, and we didn’t even have full throttle,” she explains. The solution was to install a sort of silencer and “stuff” the exhaust. That brought the noise down, but it also reduced the engine’s performance so much that the car didn’t pass the next hurdle: the brake test. And so, the competition was over for this year as well, again before they reached the dynamic events.

“But we were by no means the only ones who didn’t make it that far,” Eira assures me. “So, for being such a new team, only in our second season, we’ve actually done well.”

But despite all the hard work and high standards, the atmosphere at Silverstone wasn’t just about seriousness. “It’s like a big festival,” says Eira. Participants stay in a huge tent camp, with music, barbecues, kubb, and the sale of so-called “mega pints.” “The vibe is really good, and even during the actual competition, everyone is focused on helping each other. People run around lending tools and pitching in if other teams need help. You really want everyone to make it through the tests.”

Eira is clearly satisfied with this year’s competition, but if there’s one thing she wishes had gone differently, it was the journey there. “That was a total disaster. A small group was supposed to drive the car down on a trailer while the rest flew, but in the middle of the night the trailer broke down.”

So there they were, somewhere in Sweden or “the middle of nowhere,” as Eira puts it – unable to move forward. “It was during the holidays and in the middle of the night, so it was impossible to get hold of anyone. The stress level was pretty high, to put it mildly.” Luckily, a bit of bad luck turned into good luck. Eira’s father came to the rescue through his own network. “He knew someone who knew someone, who by chance both had exactly the parts we needed and a family member who was also heading down to compete in Formula Student.”

Unfortunately, the rest of the trip wasn’t smooth either. With a ferry that had engine trouble and a car accident on the way, the trailer – which also carried all the tents for the 27 participants – didn’t arrive until one o’clock in the morning. “So we had no choice but to start setting up right

away to get a couple of hours’ sleep before the competition started early the next morning.”

One goal for next season will definitely be a smoother trip, but what other ambitions does Helix have? “Keep it simple, stupid,” Eira laughs. “This year’s goal is to have a reliable car that does what it’s supposed to and to keep things simple. Of course, we dream of making it to the dynamic events, but the most important thing is that Helix continues to be a good learning arena for students.”

She emphasizes that Helix is about much more than just building cars. “A lot of it is about marketing and finances. We actually operate like a startup. Many people think you have to study engineering to join, but that’s not true.” Today Helix consists of 54 students from four different faculties, and many of them work on everything from sponsorships and budgeting to social media and networking.

On September 1st, Helix will hold an info meeting to recruit new students. For those considering applying, Eira has a clear piece of advice: “Don’t be afraid that you don’t know enough beforehand. Helix is a learning arena, and as long as you’re motivated, there are no limits to what you can achieve.”