ZJU hosts its first campus racing culture carnival

On October 11, Zhejiang University's first Xinghuo Cup campus racing culture carnival opened at the south square of the Zijingang Gymnasium, offering go-kart rides, racing simulators, first-person RC racing and a science-and-innovation market.

Crowds of students and faculty gathered in front of the gymnasium, where themed booths, go-karts and immersive racing simulators lined up in a row. Amid the hum of engines and bursts of cheers, the carnival was officially underway.

On the track, go-karts sped past as tires gripped the asphalt, and excitement kept building. I never expected to drive a go-kart on campus! said Xu, the first student to take the wheel. With helmets on and hands on the steering wheels, students felt the wind rushing past and enjoyed the thrill of speed.

Racing is not as hard to get into as people might think. We hope more students can enjoy the fun of racing and do something really cool together, said Ye from the ZJU Horizon Racing Team, a student club that helped organize the event.

The carnival had more to offer beyond the track. The racing simulators let students run immersive laps, with steering wheels, pedals and sensors responding in real time and realistic driving audio making every turn and acceleration feel true to life.

I'm a big Formula One fan and I also play racing games, but sitting in such a realistic cockpit was a first for me. I'm glad the university provided this opportunity, said a student after a simulator session.

First-person RC racing brought driving in a video game into the real world: from the onboard view of a remote-controlled car, the track unfolded ahead and the car turned nimbly at every command. Even a miniature car can bring big fun.

At the science-and-innovation market, students explored booths of different themes, took on fun quiz challenges and discovered the science behind the technology.

No sports, no education. Zhejiang University continues to foster a vibrant campus sports culture and encourages students to explore, innovate and strive for excellence. By combining sports with automotive technology and innovation, the carnival gave more ZJU students a hands-on experience of the appeal of science and sports.

Adapted and translated from the article written by Sun Hui, Hua Xiale and Zhang Shufan
Translator: Ding Chenwei
Photo: Sun Hui, Chen Siqing and Ting guang
Editor: Ding Chenwei