On Tuesday, April 3, the University of Waterloo's Baja SAE design team unveiled their 2012 all-terrain vehicle in Engineering's Student Design Centre. Designed over the Spring and Fall 2011 school terms and constructed between January and March, the car will take part in a competition in Portland, Oregon, from May 2-5, 2012.
On the first day of competition, the vehicle's safety and design will be evaluated by judges who will look at aspects such as innovation and serviceability. Then it's off to the races!
The second day will feature an acceleration test, hill climb, land manoeuvrability test, and rock crawl, leading up to the final event on day three: the four-hour endurance race!
Approximately 100 Baja cars will attempt to complete as many laps as possible during the grueling off-road race, and with obstacles such as mud, logs, steep inclines, and jumps, few will make it to the end.
With a variety of new features from mud guards to a redesigned suspension, the 2012 Baja SAE team is targeting a top-20 finish!