Lauren Douglas, a horse-racing enthusiast since childhood, seized the opportunity to work on the design of a new starting vehicle at London’s racetrack at the Western Fair District. As a soon-to-be biomedical engineering graduate from Western University, Douglas selected this project as her top choice among available “capstone” engineering assignments.
Collaborating with three other Western engineering students, the team embarked on designing a replacement starting vehicle for harness racing events. Unlike thoroughbred racing, harness races utilize a rolling start mechanism facilitated by a start vehicle with mechanical gates that extend on each side.
The project involved creating a design for adding gates to a 2025 GMC Sierra pickup, chosen for its durability and winter weather suitability. The gates needed to be reliable and functional during London’s evening harness racing season throughout the winter.
The students consulted with race vehicle designers from other tracks and opted for a robust vehicle to house the gate mechanisms. The design prioritized ease of transferability to another vehicle in case of breakdowns, ensuring minimal disruption to race schedules.
To address noise concerns during races, the gates were powered hydraulically for smooth and quiet operation. The two-person operation of the starting vehicle required careful integration of controls for both the driver and the starter, who monitors the race from a rear-facing seat.
Additional features included a speaker system for communication with drivers, LED lights for visibility in adverse weather conditions, and a “pop top” glassed-in box for the starter’s clear view of the horses. The start vehicle, which entered service at the beginning of the racing season, received positive feedback from starter John Lilley for its performance and functionality.
While the Western students led the design process, the actual construction of the starting gates was undertaken by Dave Woods, known for building sulky bikes used in harness racing. The team expressed satisfaction with the final design and implementation, reflecting on their unexpected but successful capstone project experience.
The harness racing season at Western Fair District is set to continue until May, showcasing the innovative contributions of these aspiring engineers to the racing industry.
