For the first time in 40 years of service, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta formed a Go Kart team, collaborating with coeval tutor from Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (FPTK UPI) Bandung. In the beginning of 2016, Bambang Dwi Wahyudi made a visit to UPI as the advisor of Go Kart UNS and also as the secretary general of Central IKA UNS, Students of PTM (Pendidikan Teknik Mesin – Mechanical Engineering Education) UNS had held the initial workshop. This event was followed by the second workshop regarding to the development of Go Kart that was held on 7-9th January 2017 in UNS. As one of the series of event, on the last day, the establishment of UNS Go Kart Team was held in front of UNS Head Office, dr. Prakosa, Tuesday (9/1/2017). The establishment that was also attended by UPI Go Kart Team was symbolized by the waving of the start flag by UNS rector, Ravik Karsidi, to initiate two students of PTM UNS and two students of FPTK UPI in riding Go Karts as the creation of the team.
Ravik waves the start flag in the establishment of UNS Go Kart Team
In this event, Bambang Dwi Wahyudi, as the advisor of UNS Go Kart Team, stated that a team from UNS will participate in various competitions in Indonesia in 2017, both university level and open competition. Therefore, as an effort to develop UNS students’ skills in automotive, an automotive club was proposed to be established in UNS focusing on road race, go kart, and technology innovation unit activities. “At least there are three activities: road race, go kart, and technology innovation unit, including the participation in energy saving car competition that has been initiated by Mechanical Engineering students from Engineering Faculty,” Bambang said.
Sapta Kunta Purnama, Joko Nurkamto, Ravik Karsidi, Darsono, and Bambang Dwi Wahyudi with four UNS and UPI students after the test drive
Ravik Karsidi responded this proposal by stating that automotive club could be participated by any interested UNS students from any faculty. In his welcoming speech, Ravik delivered his appreciation to UNS Go Kart team and FPTK UPI students for the good cooperation. Ravik left a message to them, as a student that is educated to be a teacher, the students of PTM UNS joining in UNS Go Kart team must understand the substantial and methodological substances. “By understanding the substances of automotive without the facts, no one will respect and imitate you,” Ravik stated. Regarding the establishment of UNS Go Kart team, substantial competences refer to the success of PTM UNS students to set a new record in making go kart for the first time. [hafizh.red.uns.ac.id]