{"id":233492,"date":"2017-04-19T12:34:25","date_gmt":"2017-04-19T16:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=233492"},"modified":"2017-06-06T16:59:14","modified_gmt":"2017-06-06T20:59:14","slug":"baja-team-eyes-competitions-in-california-kansas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/baja-team-eyes-competitions-in-california-kansas\/","title":{"rendered":"Baja team eyes competitions in California, Kansas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Increased ride height and a new continuously variable transmission are two features of the off road vehicle that students on the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Baja SAE team will drive into competition later this spring in California and Kansas.<\/p>\n

Team members unveiled the vehicle in March in the atrium at Goergen Hall, along with posters illustrating the latest changes in drivetrain, electronics, frame, exterior design, suspension, and usability.<\/p>\n

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Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School, dropped by to talk to team members, study their posters, and get a closeup look at the vehicle. (University photo: Bob Marcotte)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each year the team designs and builds a new vehicle to enter in the four-day Society for Automotive Engineers Collegiate Design Series competitions against a total of 100 teams from around the world. The events include a four-hour endurance race and grueling hill climb; acceleration, suspension, and maneuverability contests; and \u201cstatic\u201d events such as engine check, technical inspection, brake inspection, sales presentations, and a design competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re going to do extremely well in endurance, which is one of our strong suits, as well as sales presentation,\u201d says Baja president Kevin Bonko \u201917, a mechanical engineering major.<\/p>\n

The ride height was increased in order to \u201ctake obstacles better and not get stuck on things such as logs and rocks,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

The new Gaged continuously variable transmission has a low-end ratio better suited for the10 HP Briggs and Stratton engine the teams are required to use, and should improve the vehicle\u2019s acceleration, explains mechanical engineering major Gilead Biggie \u201918, the drivetrain team leader, at the team\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The team finished 27th in the endurance race and 47th overall in the Baja SAE event hosted in Rochester last summer. (See video<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

The team draws its members from all the engineering departments, and also welcomes students from other disciplines who can help with budgeting and rounding up sponsors\u2014or who simply enjoy working with cars.<\/p>\n

According to Bonko, about 25 to 30 students have been active participants in designing and building the vehicle this school year, including a solid core of freshmen and sophomores to carry on after older students graduate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good spread of all classes,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The team is entered in Baja SAE competitions at Quail Canyon Special Events Area in Gorman, California, April 27\u201330 and at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, May 25\u201328.<\/p>\n