Eight students from the School of Engineering competed at the Baja SAE Design Competition and Validation Event in Rochester, New York.
“First and foremost, students become familiar with the engineering design process as applied to real world projects through the competition.”
— Sriharsha Srinivas Sundarram, PhD Brinkman Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
In June, students from across the nation descended on the Rochester Institute of Technology for the International Baja SAE Competition with one goal — to design, build, and race a single seat, off-road vehicle that can operate in dirt, mud, and on rocky, rough terrain, within a strict set of design rules.
Fairfield’s Baja team is led by students and prepares them to be career-ready after they graduate. The competition also helps students build important connections with peers and engineering companies.
“First and foremost, students become familiar with the engineering design process as applied to real world projects through the competition. As they go through the design, fabrication, and testing, they learn about project management, budgeting, use of technical standards, preparing technical documentation, and team management,” explained Sriharsha Srinivas Sundarram, PhD, the Brinkman Family Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, who serves as SAE Baja advisor.
The Baja team goes for a test drive in Rochester, N.Y
Representing Fairfield University at Baja SAE were Megan Rourke ’24, Kobi Okpoti ’23, John Chiodo ’24, Ryan Peterson ’22, Joe Liucci ’23, George Barlow ’23, Peter Fox ’24, and Stephen Borrelli ’25.
Members of the Baja team were divided into groups with each group focusing on a certain aspect of the car such as steering, suspension, brakes, chassis, and drivetrain. Each group researched and identified the appropriate parts while following SAE guidelines.
“The rest of the Baja team and I had spent almost a full year designing, building, and testing this vehicle, and I could not wait to see how well it did. I was also excited to participate in the race events,” said Chiodo. “I was intrigued to see other teams’ designs. As it is an opendesign competition, every car is different, and there are many ways in which to build the car. This sparked my own personal curiosity as an aspiring engineer, and inspired me to brainstorm ideas for next year’s car.”
Fairfield’s Baja vehicle passed inspection and improved in all categories: acceleration, measurability, sled pull, suspension, and endurance — where the team successfully completed 19 laps — the most since they began competing in 2017. It was the first time the team competed in the categories of sled pull and maneuverability.
For Peterson, the Baja Club allowed him to develop as a leader and follow his passions. “This club not only helped me improve my technical skills but helped me grow as a leader. Because the competition has so many different elements I was often reminded of the importance of proper planning and work delegation so that the team could have the greatest success.”
Shahrokh Etemad, PhD, professor of mechanical engineering, emphasized that the journey to the competition was made possible by Ms. Ellie Hawthorne and the Earl W. & Hildagunda A. Brinkman Family Foundation. “Continued support from Ms. Ellie Hawthorne and Danielle Hawthorne has been a key factor to the success of the students’ competition, making the club a popular technical activity to participate in and learn real-world engineering application and team-building.”
