Every year, the Society of Automotive Engineers sponsors 3 Competitions in the US/Canada region and 3 international competitions in Korea, South Africa and Brazil.  As of October 2003, another competition has been added in Mexico.

A Mini Baja car is a scaled down all terrain vehicle that carries a full roll cage and typically handles much better than an ATV.  Every school begins in August with a Briggs & Stratton 305cc Model 20 engine and a thick set of rules and designs the best racecar they can dream up.  At East Competition, the cars are also required to float, steer and propel in deep water.

There are many different aspects to Mini Baja and every school who competes is expected to consider them all.  We begin the design concepts almost immediately after competition for the ensuing year and use all the engineering tools we can that are generously provided to us by the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

The team designers build solid models of the different parts of the car and perform finite element analysis to ensure structural stability.  Each designer is expected to learn all there is about her respective area and this often includes much out-of-the-classroom work.  Cost is a factor in ever decision made, as one of the main ideas behind Mini Baja is to make a car than can be mass produced.  Every team must submit both a design and cost report in the months before competition.

There are typically 3 days of events at Mini Baja Competition.  The first day consists of static events that includes a Design Presentation, a lengthy Safety Inspection, and an Engine Test.  Every car must pass safety before it will be allowed to compete in Dynamic Events.  

The second day consists of Dynamic Events that may include Weight Pull, Acceleration & Top Speed, Suspension & Traction, Land Maneuverability and Water Maneuverability.

The third day of competition is always the most exciting and consists of a 4 hour endurance race in which every school tries to complete as many laps as possible in the allotted time.  Most cars take a severe beating during the endurance race and there is never a lack of ingenuity to keep the car on the course and running!

Many people ask us if we only race against other all-female teams, the answer is NO!!!  In the history of Mini Baja, there have only been 13 all-female and Auburn lays claim to 5 of them.  So usually we are the only all-female team at the race!