University Of Virginia SAE Mini-Baja

Baja Alabama SAE proved to be quite the gumption test for the Virginia Baja Racing team. Issues with the chain drive system kept the team out of competition for most of the dynamics day. Despite the early troubles the team managed to keep to it, even at early hours in the morning, and eventually patched together a drivetrain which would last the grueling endurance race which concludes every competition. In fact the team posted an impressive performance in Sunday’s four hour race; keeping on the track for the longest duration since the team’s tank, affectionately named Beast Heavy, ruled the road. With the two months until the next race at Wisconsin, the team optimistically begins the rebuilding process confident in a much more competitive showing in June.

Kyle Lamson

Vice President, VBR

The Virginia Baja Racing team would again like to invite everyone to our 2nd Annual Launch Event. The 2009 kart again appears to be prepared to set school ranking records, with a wide variety of iterative and original advances from previous year’s cars. The Launch Event will again take place in Darden Court at Thorton Hall at the University of Virginia between 11am and 1pm. All are welcome to come and support the team as they present their designs and production.

Kyle Lamson, Webmaster VBR 2009

Virginia Baja Racing is getting off to a great start in 2008.  We have already begun construction of this year’s frame, we have finished fabrication of the roll hoop and constructed a mock-up of the front tub.  For the first time, we’re heading to one of the endurance tracks we’ll face in the spring to do some testing with some other teams.  This weekend, we’re going down to Auburn to drive and practice on their 2006 endurance track.  In November, we’re going to a Motocross track north of Louisville for a midnight race.

On Monday, April 21st Virginia Baja Racing will be holding the official 2008 car lanch event. Come join us in Darden court (the grass courtyard in the middle of Thornton Hall) from 4-6 pm to check out UVa’s most competitve car yet. Team members will be presenting their designs and answering any questions about the new car. Stop by anytime you like, the event is open house style so even if you just want to take a quick look come on by.

Philip Moir, Virginia Baja Racing Vice President

I have uploaded 6 videos from this year and years past on YouTube in the past couple of days.

Here is the link to my “channel” where you can find my Baja videos.

http://www.youtube.com/oggy7033

Here is the video of the rolling chassis of our 2008 Baja car. Click on the link to see the rest of the Virginia Baja Videos.

The front and rear suspension teams worked hard this weekend and the Baja team was able to put the buggy on the ground for the first time on Monday afternoon. Team members took turns sitting in the Mini-Baja and the suspensions were tested by bouncing the baja car up and down. This is a big step for the Virginia team and it feels great to see the months of work come to fruition. Currently the baja is running with prototype rockers and spare control arms. Out of house, custom fabricated rockers and control arms are on the way to the team.

Phil
University of Virginia Baja Team Vice Captain

On the weekend of March 15th, the UVA Baja SAE team made massive improvements to the Joshua T. Owens Memorial Proving Grounds which is our team’s test track. With the help of Bo Jones, the Baja team’s founder and owner of most of our shop equipment, his friends Kubota front end loader, and a Bobcat, the team built many new obstacles to help prepare the 2008 Baja car for competition. The JTO Proving Grounds now features a 6 foot tall table top, a 7 ft. spine, a log field, several on-and-off camber banked turns, plus several other jumps and a flat, coned land maneuverability testing area. Check out the pictures of the Baja track and a video of us jumping the table top can be seen in the media section and on YouTube.

Dave

University of Virginia (UVa) Baja Racing Team Captain

The University of Virginia Baja website is up and running! The website will be a great resource for current and prospective students interested in Baja SAE at UVa. Browse around and you’ll find a history of the Baja cars Virginia students have built, information about Baja team members and Baja faculty advisers, and news about the Baja team. Some areas of the UVa Baja website are still under construction but will be completed soon.

Amin

The University of Virginia Baja team successfully completed construction of the front spaceframe of the 2008 Baja car. UVa Baja Team members returned from winter break early to begin construction of the new Baja car. Construction began on the 10th of January with planning and layout of the jig table. With a few miscues and some frustrations the main Baja structure came together quickly and accurately. Completion of the spaceframe this early in the year is a huge improvement in the Virginia Baja build process.

Going into the winter recess the team is in excellent position to begin the build process. The frame team has finalized the front spaceframe and many team members are planning to return early to begin construction. The rest of the design teams are working hard to meet a February 1st design deadline. Once the designs are completed the plan is to build the complete car in two months and then do a month of testing in April.