By WONG LI YEE
Most people would regard racing as a dangerous sport, and they wouldn't be far from the truth. That didn't stop Taylor's Racing Team (TRT), which consist of engineering students, from participating in races.
Justin Moo Xian Yuen, the 21 year old team leader of the TRT, is regarded as the foremost informed person on cars in the team. "He reads up news about Formula 1, cars and has some knowledge on motorcycle engines too," shares a team member, Lim Hao Chuan.
Moo is a shy guy, but he has been through some of the funniest (so he says) events during his time in TRT. He had once set fire to the labs when he was set to the task of rebuilding the Phoenix, the first car which TRT had made. A little bit of fuel had leaked when the fuel tank was emptied, causing the flame. Thankfully nobody had been hurt in the incident.
When asked as to who was the most serious member of the team, I had been told it was a student named Leroy.
Leroy Liaw Kwok Leong, 22, was surprisingly friendly, or maybe I had been expecting him to be a strict person when I was told that he was the serious type. "I look up to my brother who was able to work while studying and was able to buy a house and car in only four years," shared Liaw as we chatted on who inspires him the most. In TRT, he makes sure plans work out and manage the team.
At the time, Ahmed Firdaus bin Ahmod Farid was polishing the Imperica, another car made by the TRT. He is a driver and general help around the TRT, doing most of the mechanical clean-up and fine tuning the car. The 21 year old Taylorian actually has experience modding car parts. He admitted that his own Proton Satria's suspension had been modded for easier handling.
Touted as the funniest member of the TRT, Thomson Hee Chin Siong is in charge of TRT’s social media management, updating sponsors on the team, and photographs of TRT. The 21 year old Taylorian had initially followed friends when he chose to study engineering in Taylors, eventually found a place in TRT with his fun loving personality. When things get too stressful, he would do stupid things to make others laugh.
If you've seen any of the TRT's videos on YouTube or Facebook, those are recorded by Azzam Syafiq bin Samsuddin, 22, who mostly helps out the team by communicating with the race organisers and being there for the team during races.
Jason Law Sie Wei, 21 is the son of a banker that hopes to open his own car factory. "I've learnt to love cars more since joining the TRT," said Law. He had interest in Tamiya cars and assembling models during his childhood. In the team, he is in charge of the design of the website for TRT.
There are more to TRT members, of course. Lim Hao Chuan, 21, likes to play futsal. "I'm in charge of manufacturing parts," he adds when explaining his role in the TRT. He joined a year ago and has created parts with the milling machines in the innovative and prototyping lab in Taylor's Lakeside University for the car.
The first description I had of Ooi Chong Kiat,22, was that he was a dai kor, or big brother in english. Ooi helps out with the sponsors as well as making sure the engine of the car works well.
Being proficient in both math and physics, Soh Zheng Pei, 21, chose to study Engineering. Soh's somewhat an unofficial assistant for the leader, and knows as much as the team leader. His parents are involved in the manufacturing industry as well.
TRT had recently placed second in the Educational Innovation of Motorsports & Automotive (EIMA) race. As they have never won first place in the EIMA race before, that's their current goal besides going to international car races for university students. They're going to keep getting better, faster until that first place is theirs.
Most people would regard racing as a dangerous sport, and they wouldn't be far from the truth. That didn't stop Taylor's Racing Team (TRT), which consist of engineering students, from participating in races.
Justin Moo Xian Yuen, the 21 year old team leader of the TRT, is regarded as the foremost informed person on cars in the team. "He reads up news about Formula 1, cars and has some knowledge on motorcycle engines too," shares a team member, Lim Hao Chuan.
Moo is a shy guy, but he has been through some of the funniest (so he says) events during his time in TRT. He had once set fire to the labs when he was set to the task of rebuilding the Phoenix, the first car which TRT had made. A little bit of fuel had leaked when the fuel tank was emptied, causing the flame. Thankfully nobody had been hurt in the incident.
When asked as to who was the most serious member of the team, I had been told it was a student named Leroy.
Leroy Liaw Kwok Leong, 22, was surprisingly friendly, or maybe I had been expecting him to be a strict person when I was told that he was the serious type. "I look up to my brother who was able to work while studying and was able to buy a house and car in only four years," shared Liaw as we chatted on who inspires him the most. In TRT, he makes sure plans work out and manage the team.
At the time, Ahmed Firdaus bin Ahmod Farid was polishing the Imperica, another car made by the TRT. He is a driver and general help around the TRT, doing most of the mechanical clean-up and fine tuning the car. The 21 year old Taylorian actually has experience modding car parts. He admitted that his own Proton Satria's suspension had been modded for easier handling.
Touted as the funniest member of the TRT, Thomson Hee Chin Siong is in charge of TRT’s social media management, updating sponsors on the team, and photographs of TRT. The 21 year old Taylorian had initially followed friends when he chose to study engineering in Taylors, eventually found a place in TRT with his fun loving personality. When things get too stressful, he would do stupid things to make others laugh.
If you've seen any of the TRT's videos on YouTube or Facebook, those are recorded by Azzam Syafiq bin Samsuddin, 22, who mostly helps out the team by communicating with the race organisers and being there for the team during races.
Jason Law Sie Wei, 21 is the son of a banker that hopes to open his own car factory. "I've learnt to love cars more since joining the TRT," said Law. He had interest in Tamiya cars and assembling models during his childhood. In the team, he is in charge of the design of the website for TRT.
There are more to TRT members, of course. Lim Hao Chuan, 21, likes to play futsal. "I'm in charge of manufacturing parts," he adds when explaining his role in the TRT. He joined a year ago and has created parts with the milling machines in the innovative and prototyping lab in Taylor's Lakeside University for the car.
The first description I had of Ooi Chong Kiat,22, was that he was a dai kor, or big brother in english. Ooi helps out with the sponsors as well as making sure the engine of the car works well.
Being proficient in both math and physics, Soh Zheng Pei, 21, chose to study Engineering. Soh's somewhat an unofficial assistant for the leader, and knows as much as the team leader. His parents are involved in the manufacturing industry as well.
TRT had recently placed second in the Educational Innovation of Motorsports & Automotive (EIMA) race. As they have never won first place in the EIMA race before, that's their current goal besides going to international car races for university students. They're going to keep getting better, faster until that first place is theirs.