Baja NOW Weekly Update: Week of January 21, 2018
Today in the Baja Laboratory, much was accomplished not only with the vehicles, but with a brand new section of our website, BajaSHOP!
We are excited to introduce BajaSHOP, our new online retail store, which will allow our followers to support Iowa Baja through purchasing various products curated by the members of Iowa Baja. 100% of purchases made through the BajaSHOP go directly to Iowa Baja Racing and help us continue to innovate with our designs, purchase new tools, as well as help fund the competitions we attend.
Initially, the BajaSHOP will only have one item, the Official Iowa Baja Racing Camouflage Cap. However, we are open to suggestions for additional items from our followers. If you have any ideas for products to add in the future, please let us know.
Vice President Rob Pohren teaching Danielle Lightfoot & Paulina Kroczak how to use the Lathe
In addition to the opening of BajaSHOP, the actual Baja Laboratory was bustling with activity today in order to prepare the vehicles for Blizzard Baja in less than three weeks. Our original plan was to take the team to the Iowa Baja Racing Vehicle Testing Facility, in order to allow new members to drive and become familiar with the vehicles before Blizzard Baja, but due to inclement weather, we were confined to regular working time within the Baja Laboratory.
(From Left) Martell Bell, Mitchell Evens, Grant Schelley, and Rob Pohren Bleed Brakes on one of the Baja Vehicles
Members spent today completing our rigorous battery of safety tests on each vehicle. First, members checked the tightness of bolts on each of the Baja vehicles. Then, teams of three verified the braking systems on each vehicle had been properly bled of air. If air is left in the braking system of a Baja vehicle, the brakes will not properly stop the vehicle and increase its stopping distance. After this, vehicles are checked to make sure the suspension, seats, steering wheel are all in optimal condition before they are given the all clear to race.
Liam Sharkie designing a new Engine Cover
Meanwhile, Vice President Rob Pohren set to work fabricating a prototype for the Brake Rotor Mounts for one of the vehicles. These parts properly secure the rotor to the rest of the vehicle's systems, making them a critical point of the vehicle design.
“(The Brake Rotor Mounts) are a simple idea to test which took a little time to fabricate today. We will have the version used on our National Vehicle water-jetted for increased simplicity.”
Next, members finished reinforcing one of the steering control systems which will be used on one of the vehicles at Blizzard Baja. While the original design was proven strong enough to resist damage at Midnight Mayhem in October, after further inspection, more reinforcement was added to ensure its proper function in the future.
(From Left) Peter Laubenthal, Ben Atzen & Ryan Stoneman designing parts for the National Vehicle
Finally, while members prepared the vehicles for Blizzard Baja, President Kayla Denson & Treasurer Alex Dalziel finished the paperwork necessary for the team to be able to make the roughly 500 mile trip to Blizzard Baja. Paperwork included renting both vehicles and hotels and ensuring the University was aware of all of the necessary pre-planning.
“You can’t go anywhere without the paperwork being complete in the proper order. Thankfully, it seems we have gotten it all done.”