Baja racecars compete at World Challenge

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A. Sue Weisler

The off-road vehicles, all built by student-engineers, are judged on their ability to successfully maneuver over rough terrain, hills and other obstacles over three exciting days of competition.

When the 2013 schedule of U.S. race events was released, the Baja East event filled its registration quota of 100 teams within 16 minutes—fast, but not nearly as fast the as the off-road vehicles that will move through hill climbs, sled pulls and the course endurance challenge at the 2013 Baja SAE Rochester World Challenge, which takes place at Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday, June 7, and at Hogback Hill Motocross Track in Palmyra, N.Y., June 8 and 9.

Media can meet student team leaders and event organizers at a news conference at 11 a.m. Friday, June 7, in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center.

The event will include brief comments about the overall competition and the collegiate race teams. Race team captains will be available to address questions about the competition, along with Martin Gordon, Rochester event organizer, and Sam Barill, Society of Automotive Engineers manager of collegiate programs and educational relations. All will be available as escorts for the competition that will be underway in the field house.

Teams represented this year come from U.S. colleges including Clarkson University, SUNY Buffalo, Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan State universities and from around the world including Canada, Venezuela, India, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and Mexico.

This is the fifth time RIT has hosted collegiate Baja teams from across the country and around the world. The off-road vehicles are judged on dynamic field events including the ability to maneuver over rough terrain, hills and obstacles, and as well as design and cost reports, acceleration, braking and suspension performance. Capping the competition is a four-hour long endurance race.

WHAT: SAE Baja Rochester World Challenge and News Conference

WHEN: 11 a.m. Friday, June 7

WHO: Available speakers include Marty Gordon, event organizer and RIT professor of mechanical engineering technology; Samuel Barill, manager, Collegiate Programs, SAE International; collegiate racecar team representatives

WHERE: RIT’s Gordon Field House and Activities Center

CONTACT: Michelle Cometa, 585-475-4954, 585-773-2353 (cell) or email macuns@rit.edu