McMaster Mini Baja Team gets dirty at world competition

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Mini_Baja.jpg” caption=”The McMaster Mini Baja Team placed 33rd in the 2007 Baja SAE at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Photo courtesy of the McMaster Mini Baja Team. “]It's billed as the biggest collegiate baja competition of the year, and after a 20-year absence, a re-established McMaster Mini Baja Team was back to compete. McMaster's team joined top engineering and engineering technology students from 140 colleges and universities from around the world at the 2007 Baja SAE held at the Rochester Institute of Technology from June 7 to 10.

After passing technical inspections, the McMaster Mini Baja entry was put to the test for maneuverability, acceleration, suspension and traction, and finally, one of the most challenging events, the long and steep hill climb.

“The SAE Mini Baja event in Rochester put everything in perspective,” said team captain Jeremy Dutka. “I really saw how far we've come as a team over the past 14 months, what we're capable of doing and where we will go in the future. Driving my leg of the endurance race was thrilling, indescribable, a feeling that could only be felt in the driver's seat.”

The McMaster Mini Baja Team consists of a dedicated group of engineering students committed to designing and building a single-seated, all-terrain vehicle that can race on a motocross track at speeds of up to 30 km/h under the most adverse conditions.

Baja SAE is administered by SAE International and consists of three regional competitions that simulate real-world engineering design projects and their related challenges.

The object of the competition is to provide SAE student members with a challenging project that involves the planning and manufacturing tasks found when introducing a new product to the consumer industrial market.

Students must function as a team to not only design, build, test, promote and race a vehicle within the limits of the rules, but also to generate financial support for their project and manage their educational priorities.

The McMaster Engineering Society (MES) is a Platinum sponsor of the McMaster Mini Baja Team. The MES is a student-run organization with more than 3,000 members, supporting undergraduate engineering students through accessible support of academics, athletics, recreational and professional activities. The MES supports hundreds of engineering students through various groups, clubs and teams.

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Mini_Baja.jpg" caption="The McMaster Mini Baja Team placed 33rd in the 2007 Baja SAE at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Photo courtesy of the McMaster Mini Baja Team. "]It&#039;s billed as the biggest collegiate baja competition of the year, and after a 20-year absence, a re-established McMaster Mini Baja Team was back to compete. McMaster&#039;s team joined top engineering and engineering technology students from 140 colleges and universities from around the world at the 2007 Baja SAE held at the Rochester Institute of Technology from June 7 to 10.<br />
<br />
<p>After passing technical inspections, the McMaster Mini Baja entry was put to the test for maneuverability, acceleration, suspension and traction, and finally, one of the most challenging events, the long and steep hill climb.<br />
<br />
<p.The main event took place Sunday with a four-hour endurance test on a 1.8-mile outdoor motocross track filled with hills, jumps and logs.  Starting in 87th position, McMaster&#039;s vehicle outlasted many of the 120 vehicles to finish in a mud-caked 33rd place.  The team was ecstatic to complete the race with a rookie car that went undamaged.<br />
<br />
<p>"The SAE Mini Baja event in Rochester put everything in perspective," said team captain Jeremy Dutka. "I really saw how far we&#039;ve come as a team over the past 14 months, what we&#039;re capable of doing and where we will go in the future.  Driving my leg of the endurance race was thrilling, indescribable, a feeling that could only be felt in the driver&#039;s seat." <br />
<br />
<p>The McMaster Mini Baja Team consists of a dedicated group of engineering students committed to designing and building a single-seated, all-terrain vehicle that can race on a motocross track at speeds of up to 30 km/h under the most adverse conditions. <br />
<br />
<p>Baja SAE is administered by SAE International and consists of three regional competitions that simulate real-world engineering design projects and their related challenges. <br />
<br />
<p>The object of the competition is to provide SAE student members with a challenging project that involves the planning and manufacturing tasks found when introducing a new product to the consumer industrial market. <br />
<br />
<p>Students must function as a team to not only design, build, test, promote and race a vehicle within the limits of the rules, but also to generate financial support for their project and manage their educational priorities. <br />
<br />
<p>The McMaster Engineering Society (MES) is a Platinum sponsor of the McMaster Mini Baja Team.  The MES is a student-run organization with more than 3,000 members, supporting undergraduate engineering students through accessible support of academics, athletics, recreational and professional activities.  The MES supports hundreds of engineering students through various groups, clubs and teams.<br />

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