The engineering department of Cranfield University is renowned for being at the forefront of technology, yet many of the students have never had the opportunity to see vintage car design laid bare. When the university approached the Veteran Car Club to help remedy this, the club was only too happy to help.
The aim of the partnership is to enable students to review engineering problem-solving from the era when the motor car first took to the roads. With no design baseline, car manufacturers were all pursuing different solutions and making different decisions – such as whether to use steam or petrol for the engine, and whether to use a tiller or a steering wheel – which makes this a fascinating period for students to look at.
The inaugural ‘Meet the Students’ event saw the VCC gather twenty cars on campus, and owners talked students through the operation and design of their vehicles. The event proved quite a draw, with crowds of future engineers marvelling at how simple yet effective the methodology of that period was.
Following the success of this initiative, the VCC will also be supporting Cranfield with its Festival of Flight event, which takes place on Saturday 17 September as part of the university’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
