By Mark
Riechers
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most people would do anything they could to avoid driving
their car through anything resembling a "mud bog." But beginning
Friday, more than 1,200 students will work hard to plow as far into the mud as
they possibly can.
The 2012 Baja SAE Competition hits Burlington, WI,
June 8-10, bringing 115 teams from numerous countries to test off-road vehicles
they've designed in a barrage of rough terrain and water-based driving
challenges.
"The competition's premise is to apply engineering
principles to design and build an all-terrain vehicle, then challenge other
students from around the world," says competition organizer and University
of Wisconsin-Madison vehicle team adviser Glenn Bower.
Now in its 36th year, the competition aims to evaluate both
the cost and performance of each team's vehicle.
Vehicle performance will be determined in a series of
dynamic events, which include the aforementioned mud bog-a trough of mud two
feet deep that teams will attempt to drive through for as long as possible-plus
a sled pull, acceleration challenges and a four-hour endurance run where teams
must keep their vehicle running as long as possible, repairing their vehicle
mid-race if it breaks down.
The Baja SAE Competition is made possible with help from SAE
Milwaukee and a staff of volunteers made up of UW vehicle team alumni, who will
help organize and judge each event. The competition will take place at the MGA
Research Corporation Proving Grounds at 5000 Warren Road, Burlington,
WI.
Schedules and more information can be found on the competition website here.
