K-STATE AT SALINA MINI BAJA TEAM EARNS BEST-EVER FINISHES

May 10, 2004

SALINA – The two Kansas State University at Salina’s mini Baja cars competed in the Baja West competition, with both teams finishing higher than ever before in the team’s history. The international event took place April 22-24 in Portland, Ore.

In competition with nearly 100 other teams from the United State, Mexico and Canada, the K-State at Salina team raced two cars. A “new” car was built from scratch finished 27th overall, while a car rebuilt from a prior competition took 38th place. Both finishes were records for the team.

“ This year we put in a lot of time and resources to testing and designing the car,” said Paul Homan, member of the first team and secretary/treasurer of the student club. “With our experience in the past few years, we noticed that the drive train and suspension were the main components to placing well in the competition, so that’s what we focused on.”
Each year K-State at Salina students participate in the mini Baja program, sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Teams are given a standard Briggs and Stratton engine and then challenged to design and build an off-road vehicle that can undergo a variety of tests and off-road events.

In addition to the actual driving competitions, teams must also demonstrate business savvy – figured into the overall ranks is a business and marketing plan that each team must present to a panel of judges. Leading up to the competition, teams also must generate financial support for their project by making business presentations in the local community.
Students racing on the 27th place team were Dan Mathewson, Axtell, junior in mechanical engineering technology; Brandon Nemecheck, Goodland, junior in mechanical engineering technology; Andy Weber, Halstead, junior mechanical engineering technology; Alan McQueen, Hiawatha, junior in mechanical engineering; and Homan, Topeka, junior in mechanical engineering technology.

Students racing on the 38th place team were Deanna Livengood, Goodland, freshman in electronic and computer engineering technology; Laramie Coker, Minneapolis, freshman in electronic and computer engineering technology; Darin Brown, New Cambria, senior in mechanical engineering technology; Matt Hensiek, Newton, senior in mechanical engineering technology; and Justin Schemm, Wallace, freshman in mechanical engineering technology.

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