Baja NOW Weekly Update: Week of April 29, 2018
Be Sure to check out a Baja NOW Special Edition about The Patriot's debut week as well as Baja SAE Night with Professor Hiroyuki Sugiyama tomorrow (May 1) at 11:30 A.M.
With The Patriot complete and ready to race, Iowa Baja shifted their focus from building The Patriot to the static events the team will face at the SAE Collegiate Design Series Baja Nationals this summer in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Secretary Eric Jones and Vice President Rob Pohren checking strength of a part
The competition at a Baja SAE Collegiate Event is not just on the racetrack. Alongside the Dynamic events, like the 4 hour endurance race, teams compete in a variety of static events. Static events include a sales presentation where a representative from each team must pitch their designs to a board of engineers, a detailed cost report of the exact cost to produce a team's vehicle and a design report which explains the design innovations and principle of each teams unique design as well as data to prove its effectiveness.
Vice President Rob Pohren & Treasurer Alex Dalziel working on the Sales Presentation
Chief Designer Mitch Evens & President Kayla Denson reviewing the 2018 SAE Baja Rulebook
While other members were completing the static events, newer members were set to complete an important task. Members not working on static events focused on reviewing the official Baja SAE Technical Inspection Sheet.
The 2018 Baja SAE Technical Inspection Form
The 116-page 2018 Baja SAE Rulebook next to the now broken stapler
Before a vehicle is allowed to compete in an SAE event, it must pass a technical inspection to ensure the vehicle is not only safe but is also built with sound engineering practice. If a vehicle does not pass a section of the technical inspection, it will not be allowed to race until the issue is resolved. The Technical Inspection Sheet is a detailed 12 page guide of requirements that must be met. Combined with the 116 page Official Baja SAE Rule Book, it was a daunting task. However, members set to work going over The Patriot with a fine tooth comb, measuring thickness of metal, ensuring gaps are sealed, and much more. After a thorough review by members Dani Lightfoot, Paulina Kroczak, Kyle Scharm and Eric Jones, they deemed The Patriot to be in compliance with all of the Technical Inspection rules, as expected.
“Reviewing the Technical Inspection Sheet helps the newer members learn more about each aspect of the car in order for them to become more involved with National Car design in the future. It also is a good quality control for the team to ensure the car has been built within the strict guidelines of the competition.”
