University of Virginia Baja History
The 2008 Mini Baja Car: “Gnarly Garbage”
The 2008 UVA Baja team made great improvements and laid the groundwork for a truly competitive team. With 40 dues-paying members and a strong core group, "GG" was the most successful car in Virginia Baja Racing history. For the first time, the team took the car to two competitions, including a rookie debut at the water competition. The lightest and fastest car in the team's lot by some margin, GG placed high in acceleration at both competitions and was able to compete with the best teams out on the endurance track. The party piece of the car is the pushrod suspension that allowed bike shocks with just 4 inches of travel to be used effectively in a Baja car. The car took quite a beating at Tennessee, with modifications to the floats for the endurance race causing a submerged CVT and subsequent ineffectiveness in the water. At Montreal, the car had too little bump travel, too little ground clearance, trouble turning due to a solid rear axle, and tires that were insufficient for the muddy and rough conditions. Despite all this, the team pulled through and kept the car competitive while establishing a great platform to build from. The 2009 UVA Baja car will benefit immensely from the build and design quality of GG, and make another great step forward for Virginia Baja Racing.
Click here for more pictures of our 2008 Baja Race Car.