Baja

About
Directors
Past Vehicles
Gallery

What is Baja SAE?

Bruin Racing’s BajaSAE team is an entirely student-led group that designs, builds, and races an offroading car on an annual basis. These single-passenger cars are pitted against rival schools in several dynamic events, including one grueling endurance race, and are presented in professional business and design reviews.

Want to get involved? Fill out this interest form!

Bruin Racing Baja Team 2017-2018
Baja SAE Oregon 2018

Our Directors

Ben Sharp

Mechanical Engineering '22

Technical Director

The Technical Director evaluates the designs and plans of each subteam, setting top-level goals and integration choices in the context of total vehicle performance.

▹ benjamin.sharp@bruinracing.org

Alex Hedrick

Mechanical Engineering '22

Managing Director

The Managing Director coordinates the whole Baja team, including finding sponsorships, facilitating collaboration between subteams, and keeping the team on track to meet deadlines.

▹ alex.hedrick@bruinracing.org

Dominik Bahm

Mechanical Engineering '23

Chassis

The chassis subteam designs, assembles, and tests the tubular chassis as well as designing and fabricating body panels and decals for the car.

▹ dominik.bahm@bruinracing.org

Junha Park

Mechanical Engineering '23

Powertrain

The powertrain subteam designs, manufactures, and tests the gearbox and the half-shaft assemblies.

▹ junha.park@bruinracing.org

John Field

Mechanical/Mathematics '22

Electronics and Data Aquisition

Data Aquisition’s purpose is to design and implement sensors and other electronics both on and off the baja car for the purpose of collecting data to be used in designing future cars, as well as tuning the current car.

▹ john.field@bruinracing.org

Ben Sharp

Mechanical Engineering '22

Suspension

The Suspension subteam engineers the car's interaction with the road, optimizing our suspension geometry through the lens of vehicle dynamics.

▹ benjamin.sharp@bruinracing.org

Emma Gloyer

Mechanical Engineering '23

Jake Kanetis

Mechanical Engineering '23

ECVT (Electro-mechanically actuated Continuously Variable Transmission)

The ECVT team is developing a custom actuated CVT dictated by a controls scheme to autonomously shift and change its gear ratio in order to maintain our engine at its optimal, highest power-output speed.

▹ emma.gloyer@bruinracing.org
▹ jake.kanetis@bruinracing.org

Conway Xu

Math of Computation '24

Arnav Doshi

Electrical Engineering '24

Business

The business leads are in charge of budgeting, corporate partnerships and acquiring sponsorships, applying for funding.

▹ conway.xu@bruinracing.org
▹ arnav.doshi@bruinracing.org

Jacob Serber

Mechanical Engineering '22

Driver Interface

The Driver Interface subteam connects the driver to the car, through steering, braking, and ergonomic design.

▹ jacob.serber@bruinracing.org

Past Vehicles

Model 19 – Blue Car

Model 19 featured Bruin Racing’s ECVT transmission debut, and it was the third ever ECVT created for the Baja SAE competition. This highly efficient transmission coupled with light and reliable spool axel was able to deliver maximum power to the ground.

▹Technical Director: Christian Hurley

Model 18 – Purple Car

Model 18 scored an 11th place finish in the maneuverability event at Baja SAE Kansas 2018. The vehicle featured a lockable differential that maximized traction and maneuverability as the competition demanded, while floating brake rotors improved braking reliability.

▹Technical Director: Ellen Kim

Model 17 – Orange Car

Model 17 was an exceptionally light vehicle, leading to a 15th place finish in Baja SAE California’s acceleration event.

▹Technical Director: Iyal Suresh
▹Financial Director: Aditya Maniyar

Model 16 – Grey Car

Model 16 achieved an 11th place overall finish in Baja SAE California in 2016 and 15th in Baja SAE Tennessee Tech. The reliable suspension and drivetrain enabled Model 16 to complete the California Endurance Race in 8th place without any mechanical failures. A rare feat in the competition.

▹Technical Director: Seth Baker
▹Team Principal: Nirav Mehta
▹Financial Director: Aditya Maniyar

Model 15 – Green Car

Model 15 placed 17th overall in Baja SAE Auburn in 2015. A well-designed steering system with a light steering rack allowed the driver to quickly negotiate corners, leading to 4th place finish in the maneuverability event.

▹Technical Director: Wudhidham Prachumsri

Model 14 – Pink Car

Model 14 placed 5th overall in Baja SAE Kansas 2014. The small chassis, high reduction and cutting brake, gave the car exceptional maneuverability. Model 14 took first place in the Hill Climb event and first place in overall Dynamic Events Score.