March 21, 2023
K-State Baja SAE team takes fourth in winter competition
The K-State Baja SAE team placed fourth at the 42nd annual Winter Baja competition on the campus of Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan.
The contest features the off-road racing of recreational vehicles built within the guidelines of the Society of Automotive Engineers. This specific competition is unique because the main endurance race is run on an ice track. K-State took 12 students and four different vehicles on the trip.
The competition began with a slalom race to determine grid location before a hill climb event up a 15-foot snow bank, with the top K-State team taking third. The final event was the four-hour endurance race, with K-State's top team finishing in fourth place.
"We were in third place until the last 15 minutes of the race when we broke the control rod mount on the knuckle," said sophomore Ethan Gabrielson. "We pitted and replaced the knuckle in about five minutes and got back on the track having only lost one position. Overall, it was a fantastic experience with great teamwork and quick racing."
Students on the trip included Gabrielson, Jacob Denholm, Cory Embers, Tanner Gould, Weston Kraus, Dennis Meyer, Jordan Norman, Kolton Sims, Ari Srivastava, Cole Thomas, Will Vetter and Bryce Zavadil.