Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University's Baja Racing Team is preparing for the upcoming Baja SAE Maryland competition, set to take place from June 12-15 in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The team consists of engineering students from the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology and will introduce an improved off-road vehicle featuring enhanced drivetrain performance and new body panels.

Baja SAE is a series of international collegiate competitions that simulate real-world engineering design challenges. University teams design, build, and race single-seat, all-terrain vehicles capable of handling rough terrain. The event evaluates each team's ability to produce a rugged, reliable, cost-effective prototype suitable for recreational use.

This year, EMU's Baja team enters the competition with a renewed focus and refined vehicle design. "The car is vastly improved over last year and has some cool body panels and design work that is a great visual," said Andrew Mansfield, associate professor of mechanical engineering and EMU Baja Club advisor. "The team is much more organized now, and we're feeling great about our chances to place in the race."

Dan DiGiovannantonio, a recent mechanical engineering graduate and president of Baja Racing at EMU, noted that last year's experience influenced the team's strategic approach. "We restructured our workflow to distribute responsibilities more evenly and introduced subsystem-specific meetings," he said. "This approach improved communication, accelerated our decision-making process, and resulted in a more refined and prepared vehicle."

DiGiovannantonio highlighted the drivetrain as the most significant improvement from an engineering perspective. "We analyzed the existing system, brainstormed new concepts, and built both physical and computer models to test against performance goals," he explained. "The result was not just a better drivetrain but also a clear demonstration of how classroom theory translates into real-world engineering problem-solving."

Such experiences offer students opportunities to apply academic concepts to practical challenges. “Baja is invaluable for transforming students into well-rounded, career-ready engineers,” DiGiovannantonio stated. “As I’ve experienced firsthand, it’s one of the best opportunities to apply classroom theory to practical, career-like challenges.”

Founded in 1849 as Michigan's second oldest public university, Eastern Michigan University serves nearly 13,000 students across various disciplines through its multiple colleges.