Mini Baja Fact Sheet

A group of 8 mechanical engineering students at Santa Clara University seek donations of funds and/or in-kind donations of parts towards their goal of building a Mini Baja vehicle at a total cost of $16,000 for their Senior Design Project; a successful build is a pre-requisite to graduating. The built Mini Baja will be tested during competitions at the Baja SAE in Spring 2011. All donations are tax-deductible and can be made out to Santa Clara University. As well, all supporters will be advertised on the finished Baja.

Baja SAE:

Baja SAE gives engineering students an opportunity to test their engineering design projects in various challenges. In this project, the built Mini Baja will be made as an off-road vehicle to be raced in the 2011 Baja SAE on a rough terrain course with other Mini Baja’s constructed by various engineering campuses. All participating Mini Baja’s in the competition will be powered by a ten-horsepower Intek Model 20 engine provided by Briggs & Stratton Corporation (engines donated once students pay deposit to compete in Baja SAE).

SCU Senior Design Project:

Senior Design is a yearlong class that gives senior engineering students a unique opportunity to materialize an idea from scratch. Students have the ability to apply knowledge gained in the past 3 years of their studies to their chosen hands-on project. In this build, students will incorporate use of design tools basic to all aspects of mechanical engineering such as: design methodology, computer-design tools, CAD, finite element methods, simulations, engineering economics, and decision making. As well, students will have the freedom to be innovative in all aspects of the design and build. The primary focus of this project will be on the Mini Baja’s suspension system with the students aiming at ensuring the Baja’s durability and endurance at the Baja SAE. The completed project will also be presented at SCU's 41^st Annual Senior Design Conference on 5/5/11.

Contact Information:

· Harman Sekhon, Candidate for BS in Mechanical Engineering, 6/2011, Santa Clara University; (408) 826-9237 or hsekhon@scu.edu

· Dr. Drazen Fabris, Mini Baja Advisor, Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Department; Bannan Engineering, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053; (408) 554-4985 or dfabris@scu.edu