Tick tick! Tick tick! Everything was going so fast and according to the plan. Exhausted yet enthusiastic members were getting ready to assemble the car for the first test run. The team looked in awe as the frame returned from powder coat, marking a major milestone. With mixed feelings of frenzy, elation, and excitement, the team looked forward to setting the final stone before their beast would be ready to set the tracks on fire

Alongside, something strange was happening in the world. The havoc wrecked by the pandemic was starting to gain momentum. The exponential increase in virus infections wildly forced distancing measures and travel sanctions. Following up, a nation-wide lockdown was implemented, effectively shutting down all educational institutions.

We got the same from our university. A two-week closure of all educational activities. Honestly, it was a bit of a relief at first. A time to relax, refresh and re-energize after a nerve-racking manufacturing period. Some time to spend at home, and put one’s mind at ease.

But the situation was not improving. Tension and agitation were starting to surface as the lockdown extended further. The wait was getting heavier with every passing day. Then came the ultimate news. FSUK 2020 has been canceled.

Yes, you read that right. Canceled. Words utterly lack to describe the sheer desolation that ripped our hearts apart, the very moment the news was disclosed. It felt like silence everywhere. All the plans, the energy, the excitation, the dreams, and the vision, the pain and the hard work, it felt like it was all for nothing.

“I tried so hard, and got so far, but in the end, it doesn’t even matter”

An idea of what the team was going through at that time can be made by the following messages

“Extremely disheartened, why does this have to happen” – Saad Nisar

“Sad and uncertain about the future” – Areej Aamir

“Don’t ask me, helluva pain” – Okasha Zafar

“My heartfelt like a mirror, which is broken into pieces.” – Imran Ali

But wait, that’s not the end. To understand what comes next, the reader needs to understand something.

There is something in this team. Something that has grown slowly. Something you can see amidst the garage work, among the worn-out members, something in their dusty but smiling faces, a feeling that runs evenly through, a blood that is shared by all. Something having a rich heritage and deep roots.

That something comes through our very identity, through the beautiful word, ‘team’, the thing which people call Hope. Resilience. Vigor. Craziness. Fighting back. Bouncing back

As some time went by, some movement, some life, some essence began to stir. Under the banner of ‘distanced but together’, we started to see each other again. It was not the same, but we could feel that thing there again. It was always there, never had left us. There when we laugh, when we console, when we share, and when we work.

The team restarted its mission by completing documents and researching future topics.

“When there is a will there's a way”

FSUK officials had decided to conduct an online competition. The team welcomed this news and was ready to nail this opportunity. Everyone was eager to play their role and everyone worked day and night to meet deadlines and learned different tools to make their presentations one of the best. Hot weather, fasting days, pandemic pressure, inexperienced members, communication issues, new roles, lack of data and whatnot, just couldn’t set the team back. You can’t just stop some people who are crazy and fanatic about what they do.

The virtual competition was held on the same dates as the original one. A question/answer session was held regarding our pre-submitted design, cost, and business plan presentations. The hard work had paid off and the sessions went awesome than expected. Hopes were high and I recall our team lead saying

“Let’s pray we get in the finals of the design event.”

On Saturday night we were informed that we were in the finals of the design event. I was shocked at first, I asked my brother to pinch me. We were somewhere amongst the top 3 teams of the design event out of 66 entries. I had no words to describe my emotions. 10th in cost presentation was another unbelievable goal achieved.

The virtual dynamic setup was very new for us and a bit out of the domain. Nevertheless, our wild frantic nature charged us up once again and bestowed us a 3rd in acceleration and the 9th slot in the skidpad. Kudos to our vehicle dynamics lead Zeeshan who put so much effort into the simulations along with guidance from our Alumni Mr. Adil Ahmed. No one is perfect and we had to admit it too. Lacking in the endurance event set us back to the last 4th slot in overall dynamic events.

So after all where do we stand? What does this teach us? What do we gain? Technical expertise. Some reputation. Something to brag about. Yes. But more importantly. And above all. We have developed a stronger faith. Faith in that something. In our wild, crazy and frantic nature. In our vision. That through teamwork, craziness, and a fanatic pursuit of what we believe in, no dream is ever short of reality.

‘Make the best team Make the best cars’