Lipscomb team finishes 11th in Baja SAE endurance competition
Lacey Klotz |
Lipscomb’s Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering encourages students to seek opportunities to practice the skill of applying fundamental knowledge to a real-life problem or experience.
This year, a team of nearly 10 mechanical and civil engineering students as well as one business student, did just that by designing and building a car that would compete in the four-day Baja car competition sponsored by the Society of Automatic Engineers.
Held at the Tennessee Technological University campus in April, the Lipscomb team placed 11th in the endurance competition, the most prestigious of all Baja SAE competitions.
“This competition is a fantastic way to apply what students are learning in the classroom to real-world practice simply because the fundamental idea is that the students completely design the car,” said Richard Gregory, associate professor in mechanical engineering. “From figuring out the structural analysis and making sure the frame won’t brake, to determining the dynamic analysis and making sure the car can turn and go over obstacles, our students are tackling very advanced concepts. And these are concepts that not any single class is going to teach them how to do.”
Gregory serves as the team advisor and says this year’s team worked from September 2015 to April 2016, and raised nearly $10,000 to make this project possible.
“The project is completely student-led and volunteer based, so students have full-investment throughout the process,” said Gregory. “The students fundraised for the project and had a very humble budget compared to other teams competing.”
The Lipscomb Baja SAE team received money from Lipscomb’s Student Government Association, department of mechanical engineering and also worked to build relationships with Nashville-based 
companies such as Volunteer Welding Supply and Loftis Steel & Alumni.
“I always encourage students to look for local companies in Middle Tennessee to seek sponsorships,” said Gregory. “When students explain the project and offer to put the company’s logo on the car, the companies often want to help donate materials and services, or give students materials at a discounted rate.
“Building these relationships is crucial because it helps spread the name of Lipscomb and the engineering program. It also helps our students network. This year, Alec McDowell, a mechanical engineering student, was offered an internship with Unipres Corporation, a Portland-based company he met through this competition.”
The main objective of the competition is to design and build the car’s frame, suspension, chassis and drive-train around the engine. Then the teams will go through a series of tests before being approved to race the car in various events that span throughout the competition.
Gabriella Barboza (’16), a recent mechanical engineering graduate, served as this year’s team captain and has competed in the past four Baja SAE competitions. She said there is an extensive process that comes with the competition.
“Baja SAE competitions last about four days each, and they include several events,” said Barboza. “The car has to first pass through tech inspection in which every single inch of the car is checked to see that everything is built according to the rules. After tech inspection, we must pass a brake check. From then on, we must choose the rest of the events we would like to participate in including the tractor pull, maneuverability, suspension, and/or hill climb.
“The whole competition is high adrenaline because we sometimes have to adjust components in the car which may take several hours. Time is precious and decisions must be made wisely.”
Gregory said each year the team’s strategy for building the car remains the same: to learn from and improve upon past mistakes.
“Each year I encourage students to use what worked and discard what didn’t,” said Gregory. “That’s always my strategy for teams: to study your car, study other cars that you see performing well and seek to understand why you’re not doing well and they are.”
The Baja SAE rules state that one frame can be used two years-in-a-row and once it has been used multiple times, a team must start from scratch.
This year’s car used low carbon steel for the frame and suspension, which was also used in last year’s competition.
This year's team was very hard working and supportive,” said Barboza. “Although this year we did not make a whole car from scratch, we did have to modify some aspects which required a lot of work and a spring break for two of us. Despite all the work, we enjoy making things and being together 
and that is probably one of my favorite aspects of the team.”
At the competition, Patrick Sweeney (’15) an alumni and former member of the Baja SAE team, came to Tennessee Tech to help and support the team.
Gregory said that other teams and leaders often approached him to compliment the Lipscomb team on its character, positive attitudes and demeanor throughout the competition.
“My heart swells when I hear others brag on them and their character, and that others recognize that not only are they competent engineers, but they also have servant hearts and a go-getter attitude. These are the things that will make them Salt in the world as well as great engineers, employees and people throughout their lives,” he said.
The Baja SAE competition is part of the collegiate design series, a competition that is sponsored by a professional organization and held for college students to build their skills professionally. Other competitions include the robotics competition for electrical engineering students that is sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Concrete Canoe competition for civil engineering students that is sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
“This competition is just another example of how the engineering profession realizes the value and necessity of this within engineering education,” said Gregory. “It’s important enough that the professional societies sponsor and commit money and resources to these events because it’s an integral part of making a well rounded engineering graduate.”
“Participating in Baja SAE competitions is valuable because it gives students some experience in using tools, managing time and working together with other team members,” said Barboza. “Engineering principles are put into practice, and involvement in the team lets employers know that the student made an effort in taking their knowledge to the next level.”
The Baja car was put on display for the campus to admire in late April, courtesy of SGA, and next year’s team will be able to use it as an example of how to better their design.
“Year-after-year, I tell the students that I don’t care if they bring home a trophy, but as long as they were safe, had fun and learned something, then my goals were met, because that is my desire for the students doing that, and if they’ve done those things, it’s a complete success, and this year was definitely a success,” said Gregory.